Definition

1. Verb:
   • To travel completely around something, especially the Earth, by sea or air: The core meaning of "circumnavigate" is to make a complete journey around a globe or a large landmass, typically across oceans or through the air.
   • To go around; to circumvent: In a broader or more figurative sense, it can mean to go around an obstacle or issue.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The explorer planned to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon.
  • Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the Earth.
  • To avoid the traffic, we had to circumnavigate the entire city.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Used to describe avoiding a problem or issue indirectly.
  • The politician skillfully circumnavigated the reporter's difficult question.
• Historical/Literary Context: Often associated with historic voyages of exploration.
  • The quest to circumnavigate the Cape of Good Hope was crucial for trade routes.

Variants and Related Words

• Circumnavigation (n): The act or instance of circumnavigating.
  • The circumnavigation took three years to complete.
• Circumnavigator (n): A person who circumnavigates.
  • He is a famous circumnavigator and author.

Synonyms

• Circle: To move in a circle around.
• Orbit: To travel around a celestial body.
• Round: To go or pass around.
• Circumvent: To find a way around, often used for problems or rules.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is contained within the single verb form.)

Related Idioms

• To sail around the world: A more common phrase with a similar literal meaning to circumnavigate.
  • Their dream was to sail around the world.
• To go the long way around: An idiom for taking an indirect route, similar to the figurative use of circumnavigate.
  • We had to go the long way around because the bridge was out.

Verb

1. travel around, either by plane or ship
   • We compassed the earth