around

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from 1a- + 2round Date: 14th century 1. a. in a circle or in circumference <

the wheel goes around

> <

a tree five feet around

> b. in, along, or through a circuit <

the road goes around by the lake

> 2. a. on all or various sides ; in every or any direction <

papers lying around

> <

nothing for miles around

> b. in close from all sides so as to surround <

people crowded around

> c. in or near one's present place or situation <

wait around awhile

> 3. a. here and there ; from one place to another <

travels around on business

> b. to a particular place <

come around for dinner

> c. — used with some verbs to indicate repeated or continued action <

always joking around when he should be serious

> <

don't play around with your food

> 4. a. in rotation or succession <

another winter comes around

> b. from beginning to end ; through <

mild the year around

> c. in order <

the other way around

> 5. in or to an opposite direction or position <

turn around

> 6. with some approach to exactness ; approximately <

cost around $5

> II. preposition Date: 14th century 1. a. on all sides of b. so as to encircle or enclose <

seated around the table

> c. so as to avoid or get past ; on or to another side of <

find a way around their objections

> <

went around the lake

> <

around the corner

> d. near <

lives around Chicago

> <

around the turn of the century

> 2. in all directions outward from <

look around you

> 3. here and there in or throughout <

barnstorming around the country

> 4. so as to have a center or basis in <

a society organized around kinship ties

> III. adjective Date: 1849 1. about 1 <

has been up and around for two days

> 2. being in existence, evidence, or circulation <

the most intelligent of the artists around today — R. M. Coates

>