- around */*/*/
- UK [əˈraʊnd] / US
adverb, preposition
Summary:
Around can be used in the following ways: - as a preposition (followed by a noun): We walked around the old town. - as an adverb (without a following noun): She turned around and smiled at me. (after the verb "to be"): Don't discuss this when the children are around.1) used for showing movementa) moving in a circular wayThe Earth goes around the Sun.
The wind makes the windmill's sails spin around.
b) moving to many different parts or areasWe drove around looking for a hotel.
I wish you'd stop following me around.
There's a rumour going around that she's leaving her job.
c) moving so that you face in the opposite directionMartha heard a noise and spun around to see what it was.
When we got to the border, the guards made us turn around and go back.
d) moving so that you get to the other side of somethingAt that moment a truck came rushing around the corner.
Go around to the back of the house and see if anyone's in the garden.
2) used for showing where someone/something isa) surrounding or enclosing somethingArrange the chairs around the table.
Sam had his arm around Mandy's waist.
Everyone crowded around the little dog.
a cottage with woods all around
b) in many different parts or areasThey have about 15 offices scattered around the country.
Why are all those clothes lying around on the floor?
The Games were watched by millions of people around the world.
c) in or close to a place or areathe quiet country roads around Chester
in and around:Is your wife around? I'd like to talk to her.
somewhere around:People living in and around the Chernobyl area were the worst affected.
for miles around:The factory is in Sacramento, or somewhere around there.
It's one of the most popular restaurants for miles around.
d) in a place with other people, because you live there or spend a lot of time thereShe said her husband hadn't been around when she really needed him.
The place gets so messy when the children are around.
Brian had been around London for years, and knew all the right people.
3) searching, looking, or trying to find somethinga) used for saying that someone looks in different places because they want to find somethingShe walked in, glanced around the hall, and went out.
It seemed like someone had been snooping around in my office.
b) used for saying that someone asks many people in order to find somethingI'll ask around and see if anyone has his address.
It's a good idea to shop around to get the best deal on your insurance.
4) not exacta) used for showing that you are guessing a number or amountThere must have been around 500 people there.
Damage was estimated at around £20 million.
b) used for referring to a time that is not exactIt was around that time that people started worrying about the ozone layer.
We got back around 11.
5) used for showing how someone is spending their timea) spending time in a place not doing muchWe got tired of waiting around.
A group of old men were sitting around playing cards.
They spent the day lounging around the pool.
b) wasting time and behaving in a stupid wayA bunch of kids was messing around outside the school.
I was fooling around and I broke my arm.
6) existing or available now used for saying that a certain type of person, product etc exists or is available at this timeThere are some really good new video games around.
7) concerning about a particular subjectThere is a lot of anxiety around the whole process of globalization.
•the biggest/best/fastest etc around
— used for talking about the biggest/best etc thing that existsIt's one of the biggest shopping centres around.
See:about
English dictionary. 2014.
Look at other dictionaries:
around — around, round 1. In general, BrE prefers round and AmE prefers around, both as an adverb and as a preposition, except in certain more or less fixed expressions or restricted collocations. In BrE it is usual to say all the year round, Winter comes … Modern English usage
around — [ə round′] adv. [ME < a , on + ROUND1: all senses derive from those of “circling, within a circle”] 1. round; esp., a) in a circle; along a circular course or circumference b) in or through a course or circuit, as from one place to another c)… … English World dictionary
Around — A*round , prep. 1. On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about. [1913 Webster] A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. From one part to another of; at random… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Around — Album par AAA Sortie 19 septembre 2007 Durée 50:05 Genre … Wikipédia en Français
Around — A*round , adv. [Pref. a + round.] 1. In a circle; circularly; on every side; round. [1913 Webster] 2. In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town. [1913 Webster] 3. Near; in the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
around — (adv.) c.1300, in circumference, from phrase on round. Rare before 1600. In sense of here and there with no fixed direction it is 1776, American English (properly about). Of time, from 1888. To have been around gained worldly experience is from… … Etymology dictionary
around — [adv1] situated on sides, circumference, or in general area about, all over, any which way, encompassing, everywhere, in the vicinity, in this area, neighboring, over, throughout; concept 581 around [adv2] close to a place about, almost,… … New thesaurus
around — ► ADVERB 1) located or situated on every side. 2) so as to face in the opposite direction. 3) in or to many places throughout a locality. 4) here and there. 5) available or present. 6) approximately. ► PREPOSITION … English terms dictionary
around — [[t]əra͟ʊnd[/t]] ♦ (Around is an adverb and a preposition. In British English, the word round is often used instead. Around is often used with verbs of movement, such as walk and drive , and also in phrasal verbs such as get around and hand… … English dictionary
around — a|round W1S1 [əˈraund] adv, prep 1.) surrounding or on all sides of something or someone British Equivalent: round ▪ The whole family was sitting around the dinner table. ▪ The Romans built a defensive wall around the city. ▪ She wore a beautiful … Dictionary of contemporary English
around — a|round [ ə raund ] function word *** Around can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): We walked around the old town. as an adverb (without a following noun): She turned around and smiled at me. (after the verb to… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English