circle
(abbreviation cir. or circ.)
https://gyazo.com/9dd94df865180f7f1fc0b1a5338fda4a
source: By Dakdada - Own work, Public Domain
noun
1. a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center).
円, 円形(の物); 輪, 丸〘永遠･天･完全の象徴〙
something in the shape of a circle:
e.g. the lamp spread a circle of light
e.g. they all sat around in a circle.
a dark circular mark below each eye caused by illness or tiredness.
British a curved upper tier of seats in a theater. See also dress circle.
｟英｠ ; 〖the ～〗 〘劇〙 (席が曲線状に配置された上階の)桟敷（さじき）(｟主に米｠ balcony) (!特等席(2階正面席)はthe dress circle; → parquet circle, gallery)
2. a group of people with shared professions, interests, or acquaintances:
〖しばしば～s; 集合的に; ｟英｠ では単複両扱い〗 仲間, (職業や趣味が同じ人々の)グループ, 団体 (!学校･会社でのサークルや同好会はclub) ; (交際･活動などの)範囲
e.g. she did not normally move in such exalted circles.
verb with object
move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once:
«…の周りを» 旋回する, ぐるぐる回る((a)round, about) «(a)round»
e.g. no object : we circled around the island
…を回る, 〈飛行機･鳥などが〉…の上(空)を旋回する; …を迂回する
e.g. the two dogs circle each other with hackles raised.
no object (circle back) move in a wide loop back toward one's starting point.
form a ring around:
(丸く)取り囲む
e.g. the monastery was circled by a huge wall.
draw a line around:
…を丸で囲む
e.g. circle the correct answers.
PHRASES
circle the drain
North American informal experience a rapidly worsening situation apparently leading to failure or disaster:
e.g. what do you do when your business starts to circle the drain?
circle the wagons
North American informal (of a group) unite in defense of a common interest. with reference to the defensive position of a wagon train under attack.
come full circle (or turn full circle)
return to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable. with reference to Shakespeare's King Lear v. iii. 165, ‘The Wheele is come full circle’: by association with the wheel represented in mythology and literature as turned by Fortune and symbolizing mutability.
go around (or around and around) in circles
informal do something for a long time without achieving anything but purposeless repetition:
e.g. the discussion went around and around in circles.
run around in circles
informal be fussily busy with little result.
the wheel has turned (or come) full circle
the situation has returned to what it was in the past, as if completing a cycle. with reference to Shakespeare's King Lear, by association with the wheel fabled to be turned by Fortune and representing mutability.
ORIGIN
Old English, from Old French cercle, from Latin circulus ‘small ring’, diminutive of circus ‘ring’.