circle
A flat round shape where every point is the same distance from the middle.
A two-dimensional geometric figure in which all points are the same distance from a central point.
A group of people who know each other and share the same interests.
A group of people who are connected by shared interests, activities, or relationships.
To go around someone or something in a round path.
To move all the way around someone or something, especially repeatedly or in a curved path.
A set of events that goes back to the start and happens again.
A sequence of events or actions that returns to its starting point and may repeat.
- Base: circle
- Plural: circles
- Base: circle
- 3rd Person Singular: circles
- Present Participle: circling
- Past: circled
come full circle
1return to original state
To end up back where you started after changes or events.
- After years abroad, he has come full circle and is living in his hometown again.
- The company came full circle, returning to its original business model.
run circles around (someone)
1perform much better than someone else
To be much better or faster at doing something than another person.
- She can run circles around the other players on the team.
- The new software runs circles around its competitors.
square the circle
1attempt impossible task
To try to do something that is impossible or very hard to do.
- Trying to make everyone happy is like trying to square the circle.
- They attempted to square the circle by cutting costs without reducing quality.
inner circle
1Close group around leader
A small group of people who are very close to and trusted by a leader.
- Only members of the inner circle knew about the plan.
- Only members of the president's inner circle knew about the plan.
- He was part of the president's inner circle.
- She was part of his inner circle of advisors.
vicious circle
1self-worsening problem loop
A bad situation in which one problem causes another problem, and together they keep making the whole situation worse again and again.
- Poverty and poor health can create a vicious circle.
- Many families are trapped in a vicious circle of poverty and poor education.
- They are trapped in a vicious circle of debt.
- Stress can create a vicious circle: you sleep badly, feel worse, and then worry even more.
- The more he drank, the more depressed he felt, and he couldn’t escape the vicious circle.