circular

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English circuler, circuleer, circulere, borrowed from Old French circulier, from Late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus (“ring”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː(ɹ)k.jə.lə(ɹ)/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective[edit]

circular (comparative more circular, superlative most circular)

1. Of or relating to a circle.
2. In the shape of, or moving in a circle. quotations ▼
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

3. Circuitous or roundabout.
4. Referring back to itself, so as to prevent computation or comprehension; infinitely recursive.

   circular reasoning

   Your dictionary defines "brave" as "courageous", and "courageous" as "brave". That's a circular definition.

   a circular formula in a spreadsheet

5. Distributed to a large number of persons. quotations ▼
   • Hallam

     a proclamation of Henry III., […] doubtless circular throughout England

6. (obsolete) Perfect; complete. quotations ▼
   • Philip Massinger, Maid of Honour (1632), act I, scene 2:

     A man so absolute and circular / In all those wished-for rarities that may take / A virgin captive.

7. (archaic) Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. quotations ▼
   • Dennis

     Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?

Hyponyms[edit]

• semicircular

Derived terms[edit]

• meta-circular
• near-circular
• circularise
• circularity

Related terms[edit]

• circle
• circular file
• circular firing squad
• circular saw

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

circular (plural circulars)

1. Synonym of flyer: a printed advertisement, directive, or notice intended for mass circulation. quotations ▼
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 55:

     The pigeon-hole was also stuffed with circulars and hand-bills.

2. Short for circular letter.
3. (dated) A sleeveless cloak cut from a circular pattern.
4. A shuttle bus with a circular route.

See also[edit]

• advertisement
• booklet
• brochure
• catalogue, catalog
• flier, flyer
• handbill, hand bill
• junk mail
• leaflet
• pamphlet

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Asturian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus.

Adjective[edit]

circular (epicene, plural circulares)

1. circular

Related terms[edit]

• círculu

Verb[edit]

circular (first-person singular indicative present circulo, past participle circuláu)

1. to circle

Conjugation[edit]

Related terms[edit]

• círculu

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Catalan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /siɾ.kuˈla/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /sir.kuˈla/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /siɾ.kuˈlaɾ/

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus.

Adjective[edit]

circular (masculine and feminine plural circulars)

1. circular

Noun[edit]

circular f (plural circulars)

1. circular

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circulo, circulare, post-Augustan form of Latin circulor.

Verb[edit]

circular (first-person singular present circulo, past participle circulat)

1. to circulate

Conjugation[edit]

Related terms[edit]

• cercle

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Galician[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus.

Adjective[edit]

circular m or f (plural circulares)

1. circular

Related terms[edit]

• círculo

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Portuguese[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circulāris (“circular round”), from Latin circulus, corresponding to círculo +‎ -ar.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /siɾ.ku.ˈlaɾ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌsiʁ.ku.ˈlaʁ/

Adjective[edit]

circular m or f (plural circulares, comparable)

1. circular; round

   Vimos um objeto circular sobrevoando a cidade.

   We saw a round object flying over the city.

   Synonyms: redondo, rotundo

2. running in a loop

   Ônibus circular.

   Shuttle bus.

3. (rhetoric, lexicography) circular (referring back to itself)

   Definição circular.

   Circular definition.

4. circular (distributed to a large number of people)

   Carta circular.

   Circular letter.

Noun[edit]

circular f (plural circulares)

1. circular letter (official communication distributed to interested parties)

Noun[edit]

circular m (plural circulares)

1. circular (shuttle bus that runs in a loop)

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from Latin circulō, circulāre (“I make round”), post-Augustan form of Latin circulor.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /siɾ.ku.ˈlaɾ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌsiʁ.ku.ˈla(ʁ)/

Verb[edit]

circular (first-person singular present indicative circulo, past participle circulado)

1. (transitive) to circle (to place a circle around)

   Circulem a resposta correta.

   Circle the correct answer.

   Synonym: circundar

2. (intransitive) to circle (to move around an axis)

   Nosso planeta circula ao redor do Sol.

   Our planet circles the Sun.

   Synonyms: girar, rodar

3. (intransitive) to circulate (to move through a circuit)

   O sangue parou de circular em suas veias.

   Blood stopped flowing in his veins.

4. (intransitive) to flow freely

   Abri as janelas para o ar circular.

   I opened the windows to get a better airflow.

5. (intransitive, or transitive with por) to move about; to walk around

   Depois que a neve derreteu, as pessoas começaram a circular pelo parque.

   After the snow melted, people started walking around the park.

   Circulando!

   Get going! [used to disperse a crowd]

6. (transitive) to circulate; to disseminate; to spread

   Os alunos circularam um rumor muito maldoso.

   The students spread a nasty rumour.

7. (intransitive) to circulate; to be disseminated; to be spread; to go around

   Circulava uma notícia sobre o acidente.

   News about the accident had been going around.

   1. (economics) to circulate (to be valid as currency)

      O euro deixará de circular no Reino Unido.

      The euro will no longer circulate in the United Kingdom.

   2. (media) to circulate (to be published and distributed)

      Este é o único jornal que ainda circula.

      This is the only newspaper still in circulation.

Conjugation[edit]

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Spanish[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circulāris, from Latin circulus.

Adjective[edit]

circular (plural circulares)

1. circular

Noun[edit]

circular f (plural circulares)

1. circular (advertisement)

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from Late Latin circulāre, present active infinitive of circulō, post-Augustan form of Latin circulor. Doublet of the inherited cerchar^[1].

Verb[edit]

circular (first-person singular present circulo, first-person singular preterite circulé, past participle circulado)

1. to circulate
2. to go round, move around
3. to scram, clear off

Conjugation[edit]

Related terms[edit]

• círculo

References[edit]