[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/circle/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / circle # circle noun (circle, circles); verb (circle, circles, circled, circling) «circle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A circle is a round flat shape. Every point on its edge is the same distance from the middle (the centre). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m1) 2. A circle of people or things is a group arranged in a ring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m2) 3. To circle something is to draw a ring around it: «circle the answer». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m3) 4. To circle is to move round and round something: «the plane circled the airport». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m4) 5. A circle of friends is a group of friends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m5) 6. A circle can also be one full round of time that ends where it began, such as a day or a year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#m6) ### In the lessons In school maths: a shape with a centre, radius (centre to edge), diameter (edge to edge through the centre, twice the radius) and circumference (the distance around); things arranged in a circle (gaps equal things); «circle the right answer». In everyday life: circle time, sitting in a circle, a traffic circle (roundabout). Phrases: «in a circle», «circle the answer», «full circle», «circle time». ### Examples - 6 children stand in a circle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x1) - Trees are planted around a circle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x2) - Circle the right answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x3) - Draw a circle with radius 3 cm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x4) - The diameter of a circle is twice the radius. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x5) - We sat in a circle for circle time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x6) - Eagles circled high above the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x7) - A circle has no corners and no straight sides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x8) - In a few moments the day had completed its circle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/#x9) ### Note Countable: «a circle». A circle is flat; a ball (a sphere) is round in 3D. Maths: in a circle the number of gaps equals the number of things (not one less); diameter = 2 × radius. Trap: using the line rule (+1) on a circle. ## In Jewish tradition Interpretation: In Sefer Yetzirah the 22 letters are set around a circle and combined in pairs. The tradition reads this as the way God made everything from letters. The prophets and Proverbs also speak of the circle of the earth and a circle set on the face of the deep, showing God's shaping of the world. In the primary lessons: In school maths: a shape with a centre, radius (centre to edge), diameter (edge to edge through the centre, twice the radius) and circumference (the distance around); things arranged in a circle (gaps equal things); «circle the right answer». In everyday life: circle time, sitting in a circle, a traffic circle (roundabout). Phrases: «in a circle», «circle the answer», «full circle», «circle time». ### Examples - Drawing the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet around the edge of a circle, it takes 231 lines, here called שְׁעָרִים sheʽarim ‘gates’, to connect every possible combination of 2 letters. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/#x1) - circle Q or Q is each a letter. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/#x2) - elementary cliaracters, or letters, derive tlieir forms from the line and the circle. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/#x3) - When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep, (Writings PRO.8.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/#x4) - It is He that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; (Prophets ISA.40.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/#x5) ### Note Countable: «a circle». A circle is flat; a ball (a sphere) is round in 3D. Maths: in a circle the number of gaps equals the number of things (not one less); diameter = 2 × radius. Trap: using the line rule (+1) on a circle. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «circle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/circle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«circle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/circle.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «circle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/circle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«circle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/circle.html) on Mova free.