circular
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (2)
- having the shape or form of a circleSynonyms: roundOpposite squareSimilar moonlike, ball-shaped, goblet-shaped, discoid, ringlike, bulblike, cumuliform, coccoid +9 moreSee also rounded
- describing a circle; moving in a circle“the circular motion of the wheel”Synonyms: rotaryorbitalOpposite noncyclicSimilar cyclic, cyclical
Noun (1)
- an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution“he mailed the circular to all subscribers”Synonyms: handbillbillbroadsidebroadsheetflierflyerthrowawayType of ad, advertisementKinds stuffer
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Adjective round, circle-shaped
- Spanish
- circular
- French
- circulaire
- German
- rund
- Italian
- circolare
- Portuguese
- circular
- Russian
- кру́глый krúglyj
- Arabic
- دَائِرِيّ dāʔiriyy
- Dutch
- rond
- Swedish
- cirkelformad
- Greek
- κυκλικός kyklikós
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See Circle.
1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.
3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic.
Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?— John Dennis
4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular letter.
A proclamation of Henry III.,... doubtless circular throughout England.— Henry Hallam
5. Perfect; complete. obsolete
A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive.— Philip Massinger
Circular are, any portion of the circumference of a circle. — Circular cubics Mathematics, curves of the third order which are imagined to pass through the two circular points at infinity. — Circular functions. Mathematics See under Function. — Circular instruments, mathematical instruments employed for measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole circumference of a circle, or 360°. — Circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as sines, tangents, secants, etc. — Circular note or Circular letter. (a) Commerce See under Credit. (b) Diplomacy A letter addressed in identical terms to a number of persons. — Circular numbers Arith., those whose powers terminate in the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose squares are 25 and 36. Nathan Bailey Peter Barlow — Circular points at infinity Geometry, two imaginary points at infinite distance through which every circle in the plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass. — Circular polarization. Mineralogy See under Polarization. — Circular sailing or Globular sailing Nautical, the method of sailing by the arc of a great circle. — Circular saw. See under Saw.
Origin: Cf. (for sense 1) F. circulaire, lettre circulaire. See Circular, adjective
1. A circular letter, or paper, usually printed, copies of which are addressed or given to various persons; as, a business circular.
2. A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54