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n. 1. The boundary line of a circle. 2. a. The boundary line of an area or object. b. Abbr. c or circ. The length of such a line. 3. The margin or area surrounding something. [Middle English, from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferentia, from circumferēns, circumferent-, present participle of circumferre, to carry around : circum-, circum- + ferre, to carry; see bher-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] cir·cum′fer·ential (-fə-rĕnshəl) adj. Synonyms: circumference, circuit, compass, perimeter, periphery These nouns refer to a boundary or area around the outer edge of something: drove around the circumference of the city; followed the circuit around the park; stayed within the compass of the schoolyard; walked the perimeter of the estate; fenced the periphery of the property. |
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