raund adj., n., adv.,
prep., & v. --adj. 1 shaped like or approximately like a
circle,
sphere, or
cylinder; having a
convex or
circular outline or
surface; curved,
not angular. 2
done with or involving circular
motion. 3 a
entire,
continuous,
complete (a round dozen);
fully expressed or developed;
all together, not
broken or
defective or
scanty. b (of a
sum of money)
considerable. 4
genuine,
candid,
outspoken; (of a
statement etc.)
categorical,
unmistakable. 5 (usu. attrib.) (of a number) expressed
for convenience or as an
estimate in fewer
significant numerals or with a
fraction removed (spent ø297.32, or in round figures ø300). 6 a (of a style)
flowing. b (of a voice) not
harsh. 7 Phonet. (of a vowel)
pronounced with rounded lips. --n. 1 a round
object or
form. 2 a a revolving motion, a circular or recurring
course (the
earth in
its yearly round). b a
regular recurring
series of activities or functions (one's
daily round; a continuous round of pleasure). c a recurring
succession or series of meetings for
discussion etc. (a
new round of talks on disarmament). 3 a a fixed
route on
which things are regularly delivered (milk round). b a route or
sequence by which
people or things are regularly supervised or inspected (a watchman's round; a doctor's rounds). 4 an
allowance of
something distributed or
measured out, esp.: a a
single provision of drinks etc. to
each member of a
group. b
ammunition to
fire one shot;
the act of
firing this. 5 a a
slice across a loaf of
bread. b a
sandwich made from whole slices of bread. c a
thick disc of
beef cut from the
haunch as a
joint. 6 each of a set or series, a sequence of actions by each member of a group in
turn,
esp. a one spell of
play in a game etc. b one
stage in a
competition. 7
Golf the playing of all the holes in a course
once. 8
Archery a fixed
number of arrows shot from a fixed
distance. 9 (the round) a form of
sculpture in which the
figure stands
clear of
any ground (cf.
RELIEF 6a). 10 Mus. a
canon for
three or
more unaccompanied voices singing at the
same pitch or in octaves. 11 (in pl.)
Mil. a a
watch that goes round inspecting sentries. b a
circuit made by this. 12 a rung of a
ladder. 13 (foll. by of) the
circumference, bounds, or
extent of (in all the round of Nature). --adv. 1 with circular motion (wheels go round). 2 with
return to the starting-point or an earlier
state (summer
soon comes round). 3 a with
rotation, or
change to an
opposite position (he turned round to look). b with change to an opposite
opinion etc. (they
were angry but I soon
won them round). 4
to,
at, or affecting all or
many points of a circumference or an
area or the members of a
company etc. (tea
was then handed round;
may I
look round?). 5 in
every direction from a
centre or
within a
radius (spread
destruction round;
everyone for a
mile round). 6 by a
circuitous way (will
you jump over or go round?; go a long way round). 7 a to a person's
house etc. (ask
him round; will be round soon). b to a more
prominent or
convenient position (brought the
car round). 8 measuring a (specified distance) in
girth. --prep. 1 so as to
encircle or
enclose (tour round the
world;
has a
blanket round him). 2 at or to points on the circumference of (sat round the table). 3 with
successive visits to (hawks them round the caf÷s). 4 in
various directions from or with
regard to (towns round Birmingham; shells bursting round them). 5 having as an axis of
revolution or as a
central point (turns round its centre of
gravity;
write a
book round an event). 6 a so as to
double or pass in a curved course (go round the corner). b having passed in this way (be round the corner). c in the position that
would result from this (find them round the corner). 7 so as to
come close from various sides but not
into contact. --v. 1 a tr.
give a round
shape to. b intr.
assume a round shape. 2 tr. double or pass round (a
corner, cape, etc.). 3 tr. express (a number) in a
less exact but more convenient form (also foll. by down
when the number is decreased
and up when it is increased). 4 tr.
pronounce (a vowel) with rounded lips. øgo the round (or rounds) (of
news etc.) be passed on from
person to person. in the round 1 with all features
shown; all things considered. 2 Theatr. with the
audience round at
least three sides of the stage. 3 (of sculpture) with all sides shown; not in relief.
make the round of go round. make (or go) one's rounds
take a
customary route for inspection etc. round
about 1 in a ring (about); all round; on all sides (of). 2 with a change to an opposite position. 3 approximately (cost round about ø50). round and round
several times round. round-arm Cricket (of bowling) with the arm
swung horizontally. round the bend see
BEND(1). round brackets brackets of the form (). round
dance 1 a dance in which couples
move in circles round the
ballroom. 2 a dance in which the dancers form one
large circle. round down see
sense 3 of v. round
off (or out) 1
bring to a complete or symmetrical or well-ordered state. 2
smooth out;
blunt the corners or angles
of. round on a person make a
sudden verbal attack on or
unexpected retort to a person. round out = round off 1. round
peg in a
square hole = square peg in a round hole (see PEG). round
robin 1 a
petition esp. with signatures
written in a circle to
conceal the
order of
writing. 2 US a
tournament in which each
competitor plays in turn
against every
other. round-shouldered with shoulders bent
forward so that the
back is rounded. Round
Table (in
allusion to that at which
King Arthur and
his knights
sat so that none
should have precedence) 1 an
international charitable association which holds discussions, debates,
etc., and undertakes
community service. 2 (round table) an
assembly for discussion, esp. at a
conference (often attrib.: round-table talks). round
trip a trip to one or more places and back
again (esp. by a circular route). round the
twist see TWIST. round up collect or bring together, esp. by
going round (see
also sense 3 of v.). round-up n. 1 a
systematic rounding up of people or things. 2 a
summary; a
r÷sum÷ of facts or events. øøroundish adj. roundness n. [ME f. OF ro(u)ndstem of ro(o)nt, reont f. L rotundus ROTUND]