around: Meaning and Definition of
a•round
Pronunciation: (u-round'), [key]
— adv.
- in a circle, ring, or the like; so as to surround a person, group, thing, etc.: The crowd gathered around.
- on all sides; about: His land is fenced all around.
- in all directions from a center or point of reference: He owns the land for miles around.
- in a region or area neighboring a place: all the country around.
- in circumference: The tree was 40 inches around.
- in a circular or rounded course: to fly around and around.
- through a sequence or series, as of places or persons: to show someone around.
- through a recurring period, as of time, esp. to the present or a particular time: when spring rolls around again.
- by a circuitous or roundabout course: The driveway to the house goes around past the stables.
- to a place or point, as by a circuit or circuitous course: to get around into the navigable channel.
- with a rotating course or movement: The wheels turned around.
- in or to another or opposite direction, course, opinion, etc.: Sit still and don't turn around. After our arguments, she finally came around.
- back into consciousness: The smelling salts brought her around.
- in circulation, action, etc.; about: He hasn't been around lately. The play has been around for years. When will she be up and around?
- somewhere near or about; nearby: I'll be around if you need me.
- to a specific place: He came around to see me.
- having had much worldly experience: He's been around and isn't likely to be taken in.
—prep.
- about; on all sides; encircling; encompassing: a halo around his head.
- so as to encircle, surround, or envelop: to tie paper around a package.
- on the edge, border, or outer part of: a skirt with fringe around the bottom.
- from place to place in; about: to get around town.
- in all or various directions from: to look around one.
- in the vicinity of: the country around Boston.
- approximately; about: It's around five o'clock.
- here and there in: There are many cafés around the city.
- somewhere in or near: to stay around the house.
- to all or various parts of: to wander around the country.
- so as to make a circuit about or partial circuit to the other side of: to go around the lake; to sail around a cape.
- reached by making a turn or partial circuit about: the church around the corner.
- so as to revolve or rotate about a center or axis: the earth's motion around its axis.
- personally close to: Only the few advisers around the party leader understood his real motives.
- so as to get by a difficulty: They got around the lack of chairs by sitting on the floor.
- so as to have a foundation in: The novel is built around a little-known historical event.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.