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a·round (ə-round)
Share:
adv.
1.
a. On all sides: dirty clothes lying around.
b. In close to all sides from all directions: a field bordered around with tall trees.
2. In a circle or with a circular motion: spun around twice.
3. In succession or rotation: passed the collection plate around; seasons that rolled around each year.
4. In or toward the opposite direction or position: wheeled around to face the attacker.
5.
a. To or among various places; here and there: wander around.
b. To a specific place: Come around again sometime.
6. In or near one's current location: waited around for the next flight.
7. From the beginning to the end: frigid weather the year around.
8. Approximately; about: weighed around 30 pounds; around $1.3 billion in debt.
prep.
1. On all sides of: trees around the field.
2. In such a position as to encircle or surround: a sash around the waist.
3.
a. Here and there within; throughout: on the political stump around the country.
b. In the immediate vicinity of; near: She lives around Norfolk.
4. On or to the farther side of: the house around the corner.
5. So as to pass, bypass, or avoid: a way around an obstacle; got around the difficulty somehow.
6. Approximately at: woke up around seven.
7. In such a way as to have a basis or center in: an economy focused around farming and light industry.
adj.
1. Having a given circumference or perimeter: a pond two miles around.
2. Being in existence: Our old dog is no longer around.
3. Being in evidence; present: asked if the store manager was around.
Idiom:
been around Informal
Had many and varied experiences; been experienced in the ways of the world: a young executive who has been around.
[Middle English : probably a-, in; see A–2 + round, circle; see ROUND1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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