1
- a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the centre)圆。
1.1
- the line enclosing such a figure圆周。
1.2
- something in the shape of such a figure圈, 环状物：
the lamp spread a circle of light.
灯洒下一圈光芒。
1.3
- a group of people or things arranged to form such a figure一圈（人或物）：
they all sat round in a circle.
他们围成一圈坐。
1.4
- a movement or series of movements which follows the approximate circumference of such a figure一圈（动作或系列动作）：
describing a large circle, she arrived back at the camp.
她走了一大圈, 又回到露营地。
1.5
- a dark circular mark below each eye, typically caused by illness or tiredness（尤指疾病、疲劳导致的）黑眼圈。
1.6
- a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre or cinema（戏院、影院的）楼厅。参见DRESS CIRCLE.
1.7
- Archaeology short for STONE CIRCLE.【考古】STONE CIRCLE的简称。
1.8
- Hockey short for STRIKING CIRCLE.【曲棍球】STRIKING CIRCLE的简称。
2
- a group of people with a shared profession, interests, or acquaintances（具有共同职业、利益、熟人的）圈子, 集团：
she did not normally move in such exalted circles.
她平常不在这样的高层圈子里活动。
with obj.
1- move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once and in the air（尤指在空中多次）环绕（某人, 某物）：
they were circling Athens airport
他们绕着雅典机场飞行
as adj. circling a circling helicopter一架盘旋的直升飞机
no obj. we circled round the island.我们环岛而行。
1.1
- no obj.
circle back
move in a wide loop back towards one's starting point绕圈折返。
1.2
- (often be circled) form a ring around将…环绕：
the abbey was circled by a huge wall.
修道院为一道高墙所围绕。
1.3
- draw a line around画圈：
circle the correct answers.
圈出正确答案。
短语
circle the wagons
- N. Amer. informal (of a group) unite in defence of a common interest〈北美, 非正式〉（集团）为保障共同利益团结起来。
- ORIGIN: with reference to the defensive position of a wagon train under attack.
come（或turn）full circle
- return to a past position or situation, especially in a way considered to be inevitable（尤指不可避免地）兜了一圈, 仍回到原位。
go round in circles
- informal do something for a long time without achieving anything but purposeless repetition〈非正式〉在原地兜圈子; 长时间反复进行毫无进展：
the discussion went round and round in circles.
长时间反复讨论毫无进展。
run round in circles
- informal be fussily busy with little result〈非正式〉空忙; 无事忙。
the wheel has turned（或come）full circle
- the situation has returned to what it was in the past, as if completing a cycle事情转了一大圈, 还是回到了原来的样子。
- ORIGIN: with reference to Shakespeare's King Lear, by association with the wheel fabled to be turned by Fortune and representing mutability.
词源
Old English, from Old French cercle, from Latin circulus 'small ring', diminutive of circus 'ring'.