Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having a circular or curved shape: The word "round" describes something that is shaped like a circle, a sphere, or a curve.
   • Expressed as a whole number, often for simplicity: When numbers are given "in round figures," they are approximated to the nearest ten, hundred, or other convenient unit.
   • Full and resonant, especially of sound: A "round" voice or tone is deep, clear, and pleasing to the ear.
   • Direct and frank in speech: A "round" manner of speaking is straightforward and without evasion.

2. Noun:

   • A circular object or shape: A "round" is a circle or a circular piece of something.
   • A stage in a competition or a series of actions: In sports or games, a "round" is one complete unit of play within a larger contest.
   • A regular route or circuit: A "round" is a fixed path followed, especially for duties like deliveries or inspections.
   • A single shot from a weapon or a burst of activity: A "round" can refer to one discharge of ammunition or a single instance of a repeated action, like applause.
   • A serving of drinks for a group: A "round" is a set of drinks bought for everyone in a group at one time.

3. Verb:

   • To make something circular or curved: To "round" something is to give it a round shape.
   • To travel around a corner or bend: To "round" a corner is to go around it.
   • To express a number as a simpler, whole number: To "round" a number is to adjust it to the nearest convenient figure (e.g., ten, hundred).
   • To pronounce with the lips forming a circle: In phonetics, to "round" a vowel is to pronounce it with rounded lips.

4. Adverb:

   • With a circular motion or position; surrounding something: To move "round" is to move in a circle or to be positioned on all sides.
   • From one place or person to another in a group: To pass something "round" is to distribute it to each member of a group.
   • So as to face in the opposite direction: To turn "round" is to rotate to face the other way.

5. Preposition:

   • On every side of; surrounding: Something that is "round" an object encircles it.
   • So as to encircle or pass the side of: To go "round" a place is to travel so that you pass it or circumvent it.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • She has a round face.
  • Give me the cost in round numbers.
  • He spoke in a round, confident tone.

• Noun:

  • Cut the dough into small rounds.
  • He was knocked out in the third round.
  • The postman is on his morning round.
  • The audience gave the performer a big round of applause.
  • It's my turn to buy a round of drinks.

• Verb:

  • Round the edges of the table with sandpaper.
  • The car rounded the bend at high speed.
  • Round 47.8 to the nearest whole number (48).

• Adverb:

  • The wheels go round and round.
  • She handed the letter round for everyone to see.
  • He turned round to see who was calling him.

• Preposition:

  • They built a fence round the garden.
  • The road goes round the lake.

Advanced Usage

• "In the round": Presented so that all sides can be seen; fully and comprehensively.

  • The statue is designed to be viewed in the round.
  • The report examines the issue in the round.

• "To round off": To finish or complete something in a satisfactory way.

  • We rounded off the meal with a cup of coffee.

• "To round up/down": To increase or decrease a number to the nearest whole or specified figure.

  • Round the price up to the nearest dollar.
  • I rounded my weight down to 70 kilograms.

Variants and Related Words

• Rounded (adj): Having a smooth, curved shape.

  • The sofa had rounded corners.

• Roundness (n): The quality of being round.

  • The roundness of the planet is clear from space.

• Roundabout (adj/n): Indirect; a circular road junction.

  • He gave a roundabout answer to avoid the question.
  • Take the second exit at the roundabout.

Synonyms

• Circular (adj): Shaped like a circle.
• Spherical (adj): Shaped like a sphere or ball.
• Cycle (n): A series of events that are regularly repeated.
• Stage (n): A distinct period or step in a process.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Round on: To suddenly turn and attack or criticize someone angrily.

  • He rounded on his critics during the press conference.

• Round up:

  • To gather people or animals together.

    • The shepherd rounded up the sheep.
  • To arrest a group of people.

    • The police rounded up the suspects.

Related Idioms

• A square peg in a round hole: A person who is unsuited to their position or situation.

  • As an artist in a corporate office, he felt like a square peg in a round hole.

• To go the rounds:

  • To be passed from person to person; to circulate.

    • A rumor is going the rounds about the manager leaving.
  • To make one's usual series of visits.

    • The doctor is going his rounds on the ward.

• All year round: Throughout the entire year.

  • The swimming pool is open all year round.

Verb

1. become round, plump, or shapely
   • The young woman is fleshing out
2. express as a round number
   • round off the amount
3. bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state
   • polish your social manners
4. attack in speech or writing
   • The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker
5. pronounce with rounded lips
6. make round
   • round the edges
7. wind around; move along a circular course
   • round the bend

Noun

1. any circular or rotating mechanism
   • the machine punched out metal circles
2. a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
3. an outburst of applause
   • there was a round of applause
4. a partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time
   • they enjoyed singing rounds
5. a cut of beef between the rump and the lower leg
6. a serving to each of a group (usually alcoholic)
   • he ordered a second round
7. the course along which communications spread
   • the story is going the rounds in Washington
8. (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
9. the usual activities in your day
   • the doctor made his rounds
10. the activity of playing 18 holes of golf
    • a round of golf takes about 4 hours
11. (often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order)
    • the doctor goes on his rounds first thing every morning
    • the postman's rounds
    • we enjoyed our round of the local bars
12. a regular route for a sentry or policeman
    • in the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name
13. an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs
    • the never-ending cycle of the seasons
14. a charge of ammunition for a single shot

Adverb

1. from beginning to end; throughout
   • It rains all year round on Skye
   • frigid weather the year around

Adjective

1. (mathematics) expressed to the nearest integer, ten, hundred, or thousand
   • in round numbers
2. (of sounds) full and rich
   • orotund tones
   • the rotund and reverberating phrase
   • pear-shaped vowels
3. having a circular shape