Kreis

See also: kreis

German

Alternative forms

• Kraiß, Kreiß, Krayß, Kreyß, Krais, Krays, Kreys (until 18^th century)

Etymology

From Middle High German kreiz, from Old High German kreiz, from Proto-Germanic *kraitaz. Compare the semantic development of the descendants of *krajь, okrug / о́круг (ókrug).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kraɪ̯s/

• Audio:

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• Audio (Austria):

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• Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Kreis m (genitive Kreises, plural Kreise)

1. circle
2. (figurative) range, scope
3. a type of territorial administrative division, district

Usage notes

• When used in the sense of a territorial subdivision, Kreis is usually translated as district. However, in some contexts it may be translated as circle, e.g. the Imperial Circles (Reichskreise) of the Holy Roman Empire.

Hyponyms

• Arbeitskreis
• Bekanntenkreis (“circle of acquaintances”)
• Bibelkreis (“Bible study group”)
• Buchungskreis
• Dunstkreis (“sphere of influence”)
• Familienkreis (“family circle”)
• Freundeskreis
• Gesprächskreis (“discussion group”)
• Halbkreis
• Inkreis
• Kornkreis
• Kreidekreis (“Chalk Circle”)
• Kulturkreis (“culture, cultural circle, cultural environment”)
• Landkreis
• Leserkreis (“readership”)
• Lichtkreis (“circle of light, radius of a light source”)
• Polarkreis (“Arctic Circle”)
• Reichskreis (“Imperial Circle”)
• Schaltkreis
• Sitzkreis (“circle of chairs”)
• Spielkreis (“amateur theatre or music group”)
• Stadtkreis
• Stromkreis
• Tanzkreis (“dance circle”)
• Teufelskreis
• Verteilerkreis
• Wirkungsbereich (“sphere of activity, sphere of impact”)

 

Derived terms

• Umkreis

Related terms

• kreisen
• kreisförmig
• kreisfrei
• Kreisfreie Stadt
• kreisrund
• Kreisverkehr

 

Descendants

• →⇒ Czech: okres
• →⇒ Slovak: okres

Further reading

• “Kreis” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Kreis” in Duden online