round Meaning, Definition & Usage

Round intransitive verb & transitive verb

Etymology

From Roun.

Definitions

1. To whisper. obs. Shak. Holland.

   The Bishop of Glasgow rounding in his ear, "Ye are not a wise man," . . . he rounded likewise to the bishop, and said, "Wherefore brought ye me here?" Calderwood.

Round adjective

Etymology

OF. roond, roont, reond, F. rond, fr. L. rotundus, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Rotund, roundel, Rundlet.

Definitions

1. Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a circular shape; orbicular; globular; as, a round ball. "The big, round tears." Shak.

   Upon the firm opacous globe Of this round world. Milton.

2. Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as, the barrel of a musket is round.
3. Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or pointed; as, a round arch; round hills. "Their round haunches gored." Shak.
4. Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; -- said of numbers.

   Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than the fraction. Arbuthnot.

5. Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as, a round price.

   Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum. Shak.

   Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon. Tennyson.

6. Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as, a round voice; a round note.
7. (Phonetics) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 11.
8. Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not mincing; as, a round answer; a round oath. "The round assertion." M. Arnold.

   Sir Toby, I must be round with you. Shak.

9. Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt; finished; polished; -- said of style, or of authors with reference to their style. Obs.

   In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant. Peacham.

10. Complete and consistent; fair; just; -- applied to conduct.

    Round dealing is the honor of man's nature. Bacon.

    Syn. -- Circular; spherical; globular; globase; orbicular; orbed; cylindrical; full; plump; rotund.

Round noun

Definitions

1. Anything round, as a circle, globe, a ring. "The golden round" [the crown]. Shak.

   In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled. Milton.

2. A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution; as, the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures.
3. A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.

   Women to cards may be compared: we play A round or two; which used, we throw away. Granville.

   The feast was served; the bowl was crowned; To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round. Prior.

4. A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.

   the trivial round, the common task. Keble.

5. A circular dance.

   Come, knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastic round. Milton.

6. That which goes round a whole circle or company; as, a round of applause.
7. Rotation, as in office; succession. Holyday.
8. The step of a ladder; a rundle or rung; also, a crosspiece which joins and braces the legs of a chair.

   All the rounds like Jacob's ladder rise. Dryden.

9. A course ending where it began; a circuit; a beat; especially, one freguently or regulary traversed; also, the act of traversing a circuit; as, a watchman's round; the rounds of the postman.
10. (Mil.) (a) A walk performed by a guard or an officer round the rampart of a garrison, or among sentinels, to see that the sentinels are faithful and all things safe; also, the guard or officer, with his attendants, who performs this duty; -- usually in the plural. (b) A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once. (c) Ammunition for discharging a piece or pieces once; as, twenty rounds of ammunition were given out.
11. (Mus.) A short vocal piece, resembling a catch in which three or four voices follow each other round in a species of canon in the unison.
12. The time during which prize fighters or boxers are in actual contest without an intermission, as prescribed by their rules; a bout.
13. A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.
14. A vessel filled, as for drinking. R.
15. An assembly; a group; a circle; as, a round of politicians. Addison.
16. (Naut.) See Roundtop.
17. Same as Round of beef, below.
18. A complete set of plays in a game or contest covering a standard number of individual plays or parts; as, a round of golf, a round of tennis. Sim. to def. 3, without the seating.
19. One set of games in a tournament.

Round adverb

Definitions

1. On all sides; around.

   Round he throws his baleful eyes. Milton.

2. Circularly; in a circular form or manner; by revolving or reversing one's position; as, to turn one's head round; a wheel turns round.
3. In circumference; as, a ball is ten inches round.
4. From one side or party to another; as to come or turn round, -- that is, to change sides or opinions.
5. By or in a circuit; by a course longer than the direct course; back to the starting point.
6. Through a circle, as of friends or houses.

   The invitations were sent round accordingly. Sir W. Scott.

7. Roundly; fully; vigorously. Obs. Chaucer.

Round preposition

Definitions

1. On every side of, so as to encompass or encircle; around; about; as, the people atood round him; to go round the city; to wind a cable round a windlass.

   The serpent Error twines round human hearts. Cowper.

Round transitive verb

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Rounded; present participle & verbal noun Rounding

Definitions

1. To make circular, spherical, or cylindrical; to give a round or convex figure to; as, to round a silver coin; to round the edges of anything.

   Worms with many feet, which round themselves into balls, are bred chiefly under logs of timber. Bacon.

   The figures on our modern medals are raised and rounded to a very great perfection. Addison.

2. To surround; to encircle; to encompass.

   The inclusive verge Of golden metal that must round my brow. Shak.

3. To bring to fullness or completeness; to complete; hence, to bring to a fit conclusion.

   We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. Shak.

4. To go round wholly or in part; to go about (a corner or point); as, to round a corner; to round Cape Horn.
5. To make full, smooth, and flowing; as, to round periods in writing. Swift.

Round intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.

   The queen your mother rounds apace. Shak.

   So rounds he to a separate mind, From whence clear memory may begin. Tennyson.

2. To go round, as a guard. Poetic = make the rounds

   They . . . nightly rounding walk. Milton.

3. To go or turn round; to wheel about. Tennyson.