circular

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French circulier, from Latin circularis, from circulus, diminutive of circus (“ring”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː(ɹ)k.jə.lə(ɹ)/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

circular (comparative more circular, superlative most circular)

1. Of or relating to a circle.
2. In the shape of, or moving in a circle.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

3. Circuitous or roundabout.
4. Referring back to itself, so as to prevent computation or comprehension; infinitely recursive.

   circular reasoning

   Your dictionary defines "brave" as "courageous", and "courageous" as "brave". That's a circular definition.

   a circular formula in a spreadsheet

5. Distributed to a large number of persons.
   • Hallam

     a proclamation of Henry III., […] doubtless circular throughout England

6. (obsolete) Perfect; complete.
   • Philip Massinger, Maid of Honour (1632), act I, scene 2:

     A man so absolute and circular / In all those wished-for rarities that may take / A virgin captive.

7. (archaic) Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior.
   • Dennis

     Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?

Hyponyms

• semicircular

Derived terms

• meta-circular
• near-circular
• circularise
• circularity

Related terms

• circle
• circular file
• circular firing squad
• circular saw

Translations

of or relating to a circle

• Arabic: دَائِرِيّ‏‎ (dāʾiriyy)
• Asturian: circular
• Bengali: বৃত্তাকার (brittakar), গোলাকার (golakar)
• Bulgarian: кръго́в (bg) (krǎgóv)
• Catalan: circular (ca)
• Esperanto: cirkla
• Finnish: ympyrä-
• German: Kreis- (de)
• Greek: κυκλικός (el) m (kyklikós)
• Ido: cirkla (io), cirklala (io), cirklatra (io)

• Macedonian: кружен (kružen)
• Maori: porohita, porowhita
• Pashto: ګرد‏‎ (gërd)
• Portuguese: circular (pt)
• Romanian: circular (ro), de cerc
• Russian: кругово́й (ru) (krugovój)
• Scottish Gaelic: cearcaill
• Spanish: circular (es)
• Swedish: cirkulär (sv), compounds with cirkel (sv) c or ring (sv) c

in the shape of, or moving in a circle

• Arabic: دَائِرِيّ‏‎ (dāʾiriyy)
• Asturian: circular
• Bulgarian: кръ́гъл (bg) (krǎ́gǎl)
• Burmese: ဝိုင်း (my) (wuing:)
• Catalan: circular (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 圓 (zh), 圆 (zh) (yuán)

• Danish: rund (da), cirkulær (da)
• Dutch: rond (nl)
• Finnish: ympyrän muotoinen, pyöreä (fi)
• French: rond (fr)
• Galician: circular (gl)
• Georgian: წრიული (c̣riuli)
• German: rund (de)
• Greek: κυκλικός (el) (kyklikós)

• Indonesian: bundar (id)
• Irish: ciorclach
• Italian: circolare (it)
• Japanese: 丸い (ja) (まるい, marui)
• Macedonian: кружен (kružen)
• Pashto: ګرد‏‎ (gërd)
• Persian: دایره‏‎ (fa)
• Portuguese: circular (pt), redondo (pt), arredondado (pt)
• Romanian: circular (ro)
• Russian: кру́глый (ru) (krúglyj), окру́глый (ru) (okrúglyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: cearclach
• Spanish: circular (es)
• Sundanese: bunder
• Swedish: rund (sv), cirkulär (sv), cirkelformad (sv), ringformad (sv)
• Volapük: sirkafomik (vo), klöpik (vo)

circuitous or roundabout

• Bulgarian: обиколен (bg) (obikolen)
• Finnish: kierto-, kiertelevä (fi), epäsuora (fi)
• Greek: περιστροφικός (el) m (peristrofikós)

• Macedonian: обиколен (obikolen)
• Portuguese: circular (pt)
• Russian: око́льный (ru) (okólʹnyj), кружно́й (ru) (kružnój), окружно́й (ru) (okružnój)

circular definition — see circular definition

distributed to a large number of persons

• Bulgarian: циркуля́рен (bg) (cirkuljáren)
• Greek: εγκύκλιος (el) m (egkýklios)

• Russian: циркуля́рный (ru) (cirkuljárnyj)

Noun

circular (plural circulars)

1. A printed advertisement, directive, or notice intended for mass distribution; a flyer
2. In administration, a circular letter
3. (dated) A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.
4. A shuttle bus that runs in a loop.

Translations

notice for mass distribution

• Armenian: շրջաբերական (hy) (šrǰaberakan)
• Finnish: joukkokirje, lentolehtinen
• German: Rundschreiben (de) n
• Greek: εγκύκλιος (el) f (egkýklios)
• Hebrew: פלייר‏‎ m (fláyer)
• Japanese: 檄 (ja) (geki)

• Maori: mātārere
• Portuguese: circular (pt) f
• Spanish: circular (es)
• Swedish: cirkulär (sv) n
• Tagalog: palibot

circular letter

• Armenian: շրջաբերական (hy) (šrǰaberakan)
• Bulgarian: циркулярно писмо (cirkuljarno pismo)
• Esperanto: cirkulero
• Finnish: kiertokirje
• French: circulaire (fr)
• German: Rundschreiben (de) n, Zirkular n
• Greek: εγκύκλιος (el) f (egkýklios)
• Ido: cirkulero (io)
• Irish: imlitir f
• Italian: circolare (it) f

• Maori: mātārere
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: rundskriv (no) n

  Nynorsk: rundskriv n

• Portuguese: circular (pt) f
• Spanish: circular (es)
• Tagalog: palibot, palibot-sulat, palibot-liham
• Vietnamese: thông tư (vi)
• Volapük: sirkülapenäd (vo)

See also

• advertisement
• booklet
• brochure
• catalogue, catalog
• flier, flyer
• handbill, hand bill
• junk mail
• leaflet
• pamphlet

---

Asturian

Adjective

circular (epicene, plural circulares)

1. circular

Related terms

• círculu

Verb

circular

1. to circle

Conjugation

Conjugation of circular

infinitive		circular
gerund		circulando
past participle		m circuláu, f circulada, n circulao, m pl circulaos, f pl circulaes
person		first singular yo	second singular tu	third singular él/elli	first plural nosotros/nós	second plural vosotros/vós	third plural ellos
indicative	present	circulo	circules	circula	circulamos	circuláis	circulen
	imperfect	circulaba	circulabes	circulaba	circulábemos, circulábamos	circulabeis, circulabais	circulaben
	preterite	circulé	circulasti, circulesti	circuló	circulemos	circulastis, circulestis	circularon
	pluperfect	circulare, circulara	circulares, circularas	circulare, circulara	circuláremos, circuláramos	circulareis, circularais	circularen, circularan
	future	circularé	circularás	circulará	circularemos	circularéis	circularán
	conditional	circularía	circularíes	circularía	circularíemos, circularíamos	circularíeis, circularíais	circularíen
subjunctive	present	circule	circules, circulas	circule	circulemos	circuléis	circulen, circulan
	imperfect	circulare, circulara	circulares, circularas	circulare, circulara	circuláremos, circuláramos	circulareis, circularais	circularen, circularan
imperative		—	circula	—	—	circulái	—

---

Catalan

Adjective

circular (masculine and feminine plural circulars)

1. circular

Noun

circular f (plural circulars)

1. circular

Verb

circular (first-person singular present circulo, past participle circulat)

1. to circulate

Conjugation

Conjugation of circular (first conjugation)

infinitive			circular
present participle			circulant
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		circulat		circulada
		plural		circulats		circulades
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	circulo	circules	circula	circulem	circuleu	circulen
	imperfect	circulava	circulaves	circulava	circulàvem	circulàveu	circulaven
	future	circularé	circularàs	circularà	circularem	circulareu	circularan
	preterite	circulí	circulares	circulà	circulàrem	circulàreu	circularen
	conditional	circularia	circularies	circularia	circularíem	circularíeu	circularien
subjunctive		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	circuli	circulis	circuli	circulem	circuleu	circulin
	imperfect	circulés	circulessis	circulés	circuléssim	circuléssiu	circulessin
imperative		—	tu	vostè	nosaltres	vosaltres vós	vostès
		—	circula	circuli	circulem	circuleu	circulin

---

Galician

Adjective

circular m, f (plural circulares)

1. circular

Related terms

• círculo

---

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Borrowing from Late Latin circulāris (“circular round”), corresponding to círculo +‎ -ar.

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /siɾ.ku.ˈlaɾ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌsiʁ.ku.ˈlaʁ/

Adjective

circular m, f (plural circulares, comparable)

1. circular; round

   Vimos um objeto circular sobrevoando a cidade.

   We saw a round object flying over the city.

   Synonyms: redondo, rotundo

2. running in a loop

   Ônibus circular.

   Shuttle bus.

3. (rhetoric, lexicography) circular (referring back to itself)

   Definição circular.

   Circular definition.

4. circular (distributed to a large number of people)

   Carta circular.

   Circular letter.

Noun

circular f (plural circulares)

1. circular letter (official communication distributed to interested parties)

Noun

circular m (plural circulares)

1. circular (shuttle bus that runs in a loop)

Etymology 2

Borrowing from Latin circulāre (“I make round”).

Verb

circular (first-person singular present indicative circulo, past participle circulado)

1. (transitive) to circle (to place a circle around)

   Circulem a resposta correta.

   Circle the correct answer.

   Synonyms: circundar

2. (intransitive) to circle (to move around an axis)

   Nosso planeta circula ao redor do Sol.

   Our planet circles the Sun.

   Synonyms: girar, rodar

3. (intransitive) to circulate (to move through a circuit)

   O sangue parou de circular em suas veias.

   Blood stopped flowing in his veins.

4. (intransitive) to flow freely

   Abri as janelas para o ar circular.

   I opened the windows to get a better airflow.

5. (intransitive, or transitive with por) to move about; to walk around

   Depois que a neve derreteu, as pessoas começaram a circular pelo parque.

   After the snow melted, people started walking around the park.

   Circulando!

   Get going! [used to disperse a crowd]

6. (transitive) to circulate; to disseminate; to spread

   Os alunos circularam um rumor muito maldoso.

   The students spread a nasty rumour.

7. (intransitive) to circulate; to be disseminated; to be spread; to go around

   Circulava uma notícia sobre o acidente.

   News about the accident had been going around.

   1. (economics) to circulate (to be valid as currency)

      O euro deixará de circular no Reino Unido.

      The euro will no longer circulate in the United Kingdom.

   2. (media) to circulate (to be published and distributed)

      Este é o único jornal que ainda circula.

      This is the only newspaper still in circulation.

Conjugation

  Conjugation of the Portuguese -ar verb circular

Notes:[edit] This is a regular verb of the -ar group. Verbs with this conjugation include: amar, cantar, gritar, marchar, mostrar, nadar, parar, participar, retirar, separar, viajar.
	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	circular
Personal	circular	circulares	circular	circularmos	circulardes	circularem
Gerund
	circulando
Past participle
Masculine	circulado			circulados
Feminine	circulada			circuladas
Indicative
Present	circulo	circulas	circula	circulamos	circulais	circulam
Imperfect	circulava	circulavas	circulava	circulávamos	circuláveis	circulavam
Preterite	circulei	circulaste	circulou	circulamos circulámos	circulastes	circularam
Pluperfect	circulara	circularas	circulara	circuláramos	circuláreis	circularam
Future	circularei	circularás	circulará	circularemos	circulareis	circularão
Conditional
	circularia	circularias	circularia	circularíamos	circularíeis	circulariam
Subjunctive
Present	circule	circules	circule	circulemos	circuleis	circulem
Imperfect	circulasse	circulasses	circulasse	circulássemos	circulásseis	circulassem
Future	circular	circulares	circular	circularmos	circulardes	circularem
Imperative
Affirmative	-	circula	circule	circulemos	circulai	circulem
Negative (não)	-	circules	circule	circulemos	circuleis	circulem

---

Spanish

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin circulāris.

Adjective

circular (plural circulares)

1. circular

Noun

circular f (plural circulares)

1. circular (advertisement)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin circulāre, present active infinitive of circulō.

Verb

circular (first-person singular present circulo, first-person singular preterite circulé, past participle circulado)

1. to circulate
2. to go round, move around
3. to scram, clear off

Conjugation

    Conjugation of circular (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)^{edit data}

infinitive			circular
gerund			circulando
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		circulado		circulada
		plural		circulados		circuladas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	circulo	circulastú circulásvos	circula	circulamos	circuláis	circulan
	imperfect	circulaba	circulabas	circulaba	circulábamos	circulabais	circulaban
	preterite	circulé	circulaste	circuló	circulamos	circulasteis	circularon
	future	circularé	circularás	circulará	circularemos	circularéis	circularán
	conditional	circularía	circularías	circularía	circularíamos	circularíais	circularían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	circule	circulestú circulésvos1	circule	circulemos	circuléis	circulen
	imperfect (ra)	circulara	circularas	circulara	circuláramos	circularais	circularan
	imperfect (se)	circulase	circulases	circulase	circulásemos	circulaseis	circulasen
	future	circulare	circulares	circulare	circuláremos	circulareis	circularen
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		circulatú circulávos	circule	circulemos	circulad	circulen
	negative		no circules	no circule	no circulemos	no circuléis	no circulen

¹ Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tú form for the present subjunctive.