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Around vs. Round — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Around and Round

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Definitions

Around

Located or situated on every side
The mountains towering all around

Round

Being such that every part of the surface or the circumference is equidistant from the center
A round ball.

Around

So as to face in the opposite direction
Guy seized her by the shoulders and turned her around

Round

Moving in or forming a circle.

Around

In or to many places throughout a locality
Word got around that he was on the verge of retirement
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Round

Shaped like a cylinder; cylindrical.

Around

Aimlessly or unsystematically; here and there
One of them was glancing nervously around

Round

Rather rounded in shape
The child's round face.

Around

Present, living, in the vicinity, or in active use
Maize has been around for a long time
There was no one around

Round

Full in physique; plump
A round figure.
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Around

(used with a number or quantity) approximately
I returned to my hotel around 3 a.m
Software costs would be around £1,500

Round

(Linguistics) Formed or articulated with the lips in a rounded shape
A round vowel.

Around

On every side of
The palazzo is built around a courtyard
The hills around the city

Round

Full in tone; sonorous.

Around

In or to many places throughout (a community or locality)
Cycling around the village
A number of large depots around the country

Round

Whole or complete; full
A round dozen.

Around

So as to pass (a place or object) in a curved or approximately circular route
He walked around the airfield
It can drill around corners

Round

(Mathematics) Having been rounded.

Around

So as to encircle or embrace (someone or something)
He put his arm around her

Round

Not exact, especially when expressed as a multiple of 10; approximate
A round estimate.

Around

On all sides
Dirty clothes lying around.

Round

Large; considerable
A round sum of money.

Around

In close to all sides from all directions
A field bordered around with tall trees.

Round

Brought to satisfactory conclusion or completion; finished.

Around

In a circle or with a circular motion
Spun around twice.

Round

Outspoken; blunt
A round scolding.

Around

In succession or rotation
Passed the collection plate around.
Seasons that rolled around each year.

Round

Done with full force; unrestrained
Gave me a round thrashing.

Around

In or toward the opposite direction or position
Wheeled around to face the attacker.

Round

Something, such as a circle, disk, globe, or ring, that is round.

Around

To or among various places; here and there
Wander around.

Round

A circle formed of various things.

Around

To a specific place
Come around again sometime.

Round

Movement around a circle or about an axis.

Around

In or near one's current location
Waited around for the next flight.

Round

A rung or crossbar, as one on a ladder or chair.

Around

From the beginning to the end
Frigid weather the year around.

Round

A cut of beef from the part of the thigh between the rump and the shank.

Around

Approximately; about
Weighed around 30 pounds.
Around $1.3 billion in debt.

Round

An assembly of people; a group.

Around

On all sides of
Trees around the field.

Round

A round dance.

Around

In such a position as to encircle or surround
A sash around the waist.

Round

A complete course, succession, or series
A round of parties.
A round of negotiations.

Around

Here and there within; throughout
On the political stump around the country.

Round

Often rounds A course of customary or prescribed actions, duties, or places
Physicians' rounds.

Around

In the immediate vicinity of; near
She lives around Norfolk.

Round

A complete range or extent.

Around

On or to the farther side of
The house around the corner.

Round

One drink for each person in a gathering or group
Let me buy the next round.

Around

So as to pass, bypass, or avoid
A way around an obstacle.
Got around the difficulty somehow.

Round

A single outburst, as of applause or cheering.

Around

Approximately at
Woke up around seven.

Round

A single shot or volley.

Around

In such a way as to have a basis or center in
An economy focused around farming and light industry.

Round

Ammunition for a single shot or volley.

Around

Having a given circumference or perimeter
A pond two miles around.

Round

A specified number of arrows shot from a specified distance to a target in archery.

Around

Being in existence
Our old dog is no longer around.

Round

Sports & Games A unit of play that occupies a specified time, constitutes a certain number of plays, or allows each player a turn, especially the 18-hole sequence played in golf or one of the periods in a boxing match.

Around

Being in evidence; present
Asked if the store manager was around.

Round

(Music) A composition for two or more voices in which each voice enters at a different time with the same melody.

Around

Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something).
She wore a gold chain around her neck.
I planted a row of lilies around the statue.
The jackals began to gather around the carcass.

Round

To make round or curved
Rounded his lips in surprise.
Rounded off the end of the board.

Around

(of abstract things) Centred upon; surrounding.
There has been a lot of controversy around the handling of personal information.

Round

(Linguistics) To pronounce with rounded lips; labialize.

Around

Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.
We walked around the football field.
She went around the track fifty times.

Round

To fill out; make plump.

Around

Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve.
The road took a brief detour around the large rock formation, then went straight on.

Round

To bring to completion or perfection; finish. Often used with out or off
The new dog rounded out our household. The speaker rounded off his lecture with a joke.

Around

Near; in the vicinity of.
I left my keys somewhere around here.
I left the house around 10 this morning.
I don't want you around me.

Round

(Mathematics) To approximate (a real number) by a nearby rational number with a specified level of precision. When rounded to the nearest hundred, 286 becomes 300. When rounded to the nearest tenth, 1.63 becomes 1.6.

Around

At or to various places within.
The pages from the notebook were scattered around the room.
Those teenagers like to hang around the mall.
She went around the office and got everyone to sign the card.

Round

To make a turn about or to the other side of
Rounded a bend in the road.

Around

Present in the vicinity.
Is Clare around today?

Round

To make a complete circuit of; go or pass around
Rounded the entire peninsula.

Around

Alive; existing.
The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around.
"How is old Bob? I heard that his health is failing."
"Oh, he's still around. He's feeling better now."

Round

(Archaic) To encompass; surround:

Around

So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.
High above, vultures circled around.

Round

To become round or curved.

Around

So as to surround or be near.
Everybody please gather around.
There isn't another house for miles around.

Round

To take a circular course; complete or partially complete a circuit
Racecars rounding into the final lap.

Around

Nearly; approximately; about.
Around a thousand people attended.
An adult elephant weighs around five tons.

Round

To turn about, as on an axis
Rounded and came back across the field.

Around

From place to place.
There are rumors going around that the company is bankrupt.
Look around and see what you find.
We moved the furniture around in the living room.

Round

To become filled out or plump.

Around

From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.
The team wasn't doing well, but the new coach really turned things around.
He used to stay up late but his new girlfriend changed that around.

Round

To develop into satisfactory completion or perfection
Is rounding into a fine quarterback.

Around

So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.
Turn around at the end of this street.
She spun around a few times.

Round

To whisper.

Around

Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.
I asked around, and no-one really liked it.
Shopping around can get you a better deal.
When are you going to stop whoring around, find a nice girl, and give us grandchildren?

Round

In a circular progression or movement; around.

Around

Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.
Sit around, mess around, loaf around

Round

With revolutions
Wheels moving round.

Around

In a circle; circularly; on every side; round.

Round

To a specific place or person
Called round for the pastor.
Sent round for the veterinarian.

Around

In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town.

Round

Around.

Around

Near; in the neighborhood; as, this man was standing around when the fight took place.

Round

From the beginning to the end of; throughout
A plant that grows round the year.

Around

On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about.
A lambent flame arose, which gently spreadAround his brows.

Round

(physical) Of shape:

Around

From one part to another of; at random through; about; on another side of; as, to travel around the country; a house standing around the corner.

Round

Circular or cylindrical; having a circular cross-section in one direction.
We sat at a round table to make conversation easier.

Around

In the area or vicinity;
A few spectators standing about
Hanging around
Waited around for the next flight

Round

Spherical; shaped like a ball; having a circular cross-section in more than one direction.
The ancient Egyptian demonstrated that the Earth is round, not flat.

Around

By a circular or circuitous route;
He came all the way around the base
The road goes around the pond

Round

Lacking sharp angles; having gentle curves.
Our child's bed has round corners for safety.

Around

To or among many different places or in no particular direction;
Wandering about with no place to go
People were rushing about
News gets around (or about)
Traveled around in Asia
He needs advice from someone who's been around
She sleeps around

Round

Plump.

Around

In a circle or circular motion;
The wheels are spinning around

Round

Complete, whole, not lacking.
The baker sold us a round dozen.

Around

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct;
Lasted approximately an hour
In just about a minute
He's about 30 years old
I've had about all I can stand
We meet about once a month
Some forty people came
Weighs around a hundred pounds
Roughly $3,000
Holds 3 gallons, more or less
20 or so people were at the party

Round

(of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
One hundred is a nice round number.

Around

In or to a reversed position or direction;
About face
Brought the ship about
Suddenly she turned around

Round

(phonetics) Pronounced with the lips drawn together; rounded.

Around

To a particular destination either specified or understood;
She came around to see me
I invited them around for supper

Round

Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; not mincing.
A round answer; a round oath

Around

All around or on all sides;
Dirty clothes lying around (or about)
Let's look about for help
There were trees growing all around
She looked around her

Round

Finished; polished; not defective or abrupt; said of authors or their writing style.

Around

In circumference;
The trunk is ten feet around
The pond is two miles around

Round

Consistent; fair; just; applied to conduct.

Around

From beginning to end; throughout;
It rains all year round on Skye
Frigid weather the year around

Round

Large in magnitude.

Round

Well-written and well-characterized; complex and reminiscent of a real person.

Round

(architecture) Vaulted.

Round

A circular or spherical object or part of an object.

Round

A circular or repetitious route.
Hospital rounds
The prison guards have started their nightly rounds.

Round

A general outburst from a group of people at an event.
The candidate got a round of applause after every sentence or two.

Round

A song that is sung by groups of people with each subset of people starting at a different time.

Round

A serving of something; a portion of something to each person in a group.
They brought us a round of drinks about every thirty minutes.

Round

A single individual portion or dose of medicine.

Round

One sandwich (two full slices of bread with filling).

Round

(art) A long-bristled, circular-headed paintbrush used in oil and acrylic painting.

Round

A firearm cartridge, bullet, or any individual ammunition projectile. Originally referring to the spherical projectile ball of a smoothbore firearm. Compare round shot and solid shot.

Round

(sports) One of the specified pre-determined segments of the total time of a sport event, such as a boxing or wrestling match, during which contestants compete before being signaled to stop.

Round

A stage, level, set of events in a game

Round

(sports) A stage in a competition.
Qualifying rounds of the championship

Round

(sports) In some sports, e.g. golf or showjumping: one complete way around the course.

Round

(video games) A stage or level of a game.

Round

(cards) The play after each deal.

Round

A rounded relief or cut at an edge, especially an outside edge, added for a finished appearance and to soften sharp edges.

Round

A strip of material with a circular face that covers an edge, gap, or crevice for decorative, sanitary, or security purposes.
All furniture in the nursery had rounds on the edges and in the crevices.

Round

(butchery) The hindquarters of a bovine.

Round

(dated) A rung, as of a ladder.

Round

A crosspiece that joins and braces the legs of a chair.

Round

A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution.
The round of the seasons
A round of pleasures

Round

A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.

Round

A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.

Round

A circular dance.

Round

Rotation, as in office; succession.

Round

A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once.

Round

An assembly; a group; a circle.
A round of politicians

Round

A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.

Round

(archaic) A vessel filled, as for drinking.

Round

(nautical) A round-top.

Round

A round of beef.

Round

A whisper; whispering.

Round

Discourse; song.

Round

Alternative form of around
I look round the room quickly to make sure it's neat.

Round

Alternative form of around

Round

(transitive) To shape something into a curve.
The carpenter rounded the edges of the table.

Round

(intransitive) To become shaped into a curve.

Round

(with "out") To finish; to complete; to fill out.
She rounded out her education with only a single mathematics class.

Round

(intransitive) To approximate a number, especially a decimal number by the closest whole number.
Ninety-five rounds up to one hundred.

Round

(transitive) To turn past a boundary.
Helen watched him until he rounded the corner.

Round

(intransitive) To turn and attack someone or something (used with on).
As a group of policemen went past him, one of them rounded on him, grabbing him by the arm.

Round

To advance to home plate.
And the runners round the bases on the double by Jones.

Round

(transitive) To go round, pass, go past.

Round

To encircle; to encompass.

Round

To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.

Round

To do ward rounds.

Round

To go round, as a guard; to make the rounds.

Round

To go or turn round; to wheel about.

Round

To speak in a low tone; whisper; speak secretly; take counsel.

Round

To address or speak to in a whisper, utter in a whisper.

Round

To whisper.
The Bishop of Glasgow rounding in his ear, "Ye are not a wise man," . . . he rounded likewise to the bishop, and said, "Wherefore brought ye me here?"

Round

To make circular, spherical, or cylindrical; to give a round or convex figure to; as, to round a silver coin; to round the edges of anything.
Worms with many feet, which round themselves into balls, are bred chiefly under logs of timber.
The figures on our modern medals are raised and rounded to a very great perfection.

Round

To surround; to encircle; to encompass.
The inclusive vergeOf golden metal that must round my brow.

Round

To bring to fullness or completeness; to complete; hence, to bring to a fit conclusion.
We are such stuffAs dreams are made on, and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.

Round

To go round wholly or in part; to go about (a corner or point); as, to round a corner; to round Cape Horn.

Round

To make full, smooth, and flowing; as, to round periods in writing.

Round

To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.
The queen your mother rounds apace.
So rounds he to a separate mind,From whence clear memory may begin.

Round

To go round, as a guard.
They . . . nightly rounding walk.

Round

To go or turn round; to wheel about.

Round

Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a circular shape; orbicular; globular; as, a round ball.
Upon the firm opacous globeOf this round world.

Round

Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as, the barrel of a musket is round.

Round

Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or pointed; as, a round arch; round hills.

Round

Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; - said of numbers.
Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than the fraction.

Round

Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as, a round price.
Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon.

Round

Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as, a round voice; a round note.

Round

Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, 11.

Round

Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not mincing; as, a round answer; a round oath.
Sir Toby, I must be round with you.

Round

Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt; finished; polished; - said of style, or of authors with reference to their style.
In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant.

Round

Complete and consistent; fair; just; - applied to conduct.
Round dealing is the honor of man's nature.

Round

Anything round, as a circle, a globe, a ring. "The golden round" [the crown].
In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled.

Round

A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution; as, the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures.

Round

A course ending where it began; a circuit; a beat; especially, one freguently or regulary traversed; also, the act of traversing a circuit; as, a watchman's round; the rounds of the postman.

Round

A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.
The trivial round, the common task.

Round

One work cycle, consisting of drilling blast holes, loading them with explosive, blasting, mucking out, and, if necessary, installing temporary support.
. . . Inco is still much more advanced than other mining companies. He says that the LKAB mine in Sweden is the closest rival. He predicts that, by 2008, Inco can reach a new productivity plateau, doubling the current mining productivity from 3,350 tonnes to 6,350 tonnes per person per year. Another aim is to triple the mine cycle rate (the time to drill, blast and muck a round) from one cycle to three complete cycles per 24 hours.

Round

A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.
Women to cards may be compared: we playA round or two; which used, we throw away.
The feast was served; the bowl was crowned;To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round.

Round

A complete set of plays in a game or contest covering a standard number of individual plays or parts; as, a round of golf; a round of tennis.

Round

One set of games in a tournament.

Round

The time during which prize fighters or boxers are in actual contest without an intermission, as prescribed by their rules; a bout.

Round

A circular dance.
Come, knit hands, and beat the ground,In a light fantastic round.

Round

That which goes round a whole circle or company; as, a round of applause.

Round

Rotation, as in office; succession.

Round

The step of a ladder; a rundle or rung; also, a crosspiece which joins and braces the legs of a chair.
All the rounds like Jacob's ladder rise.

Round

A walk performed by a guard or an officer round the rampart of a garrison, or among sentinels, to see that the sentinels are faithful and all things safe; also, the guard or officer, with his attendants, who performs this duty; - usually in the plural.

Round

A short vocal piece, resembling a catch in which three or four voices follow each other round in a species of canon in the unison.

Round

A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.

Round

A vessel filled, as for drinking; as, to drink a round od ale together.

Round

An assembly; a group; a circle; as, a round of politicians.

Round

See Roundtop.

Round

Same as Round of beef, below.
Worm-eaten gentlemen of the round, such as have vowed to sit on the skirts of the city, let your provost and his half dozen of halberdiers do what they can.

Round

On all sides; around.
Round he throws his baleful eyes.

Round

Circularly; in a circular form or manner; by revolving or reversing one's position; as, to turn one's head round; a wheel turns round.

Round

In circumference; as, a ball is ten inches round.

Round

From one side or party to another; as to come or turn round, - that is, to change sides or opinions.

Round

By or in a circuit; by a course longer than the direct course; back to the starting point.

Round

Through a circle, as of friends or houses.
The invitations were sent round accordingly.

Round

Roundly; fully; vigorously.

Round

On every side of, so as to encompass or encircle; around; about; as, the people atood round him; to go round the city; to wind a cable round a windlass.
The serpent Error twines round human hearts.

Round

A charge of ammunition for a single shot

Round

An interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs;
The neverending cycle of the seasons

Round

A regular route for a sentry or policeman;
In the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name

Round

(often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order);
The doctor goes on his rounds first thing every morning
The postman's rounds
We enjoyed our round of the local bars

Round

The activity of playing 18 holes of golf;
A round of golf takes about 4 hours

Round

The usual activities in your day;
The doctor made his rounds

Round

(sports) a period of play during which one team is on the offensive

Round

The course along which communications spread;
The story is going the rounds in Washington

Round

A serving to each of a group (usually alcoholic);
He ordered a second round

Round

A cut of beef between the rump and the lower leg

Round

A partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time;
They enjoyed singing rounds

Round

An outburst of applause;
There was a round of applause

Round

A crosspiece between the legs of a chair

Round

Any circular or rotating mechanism;
The machine punched out metal circles

Round

Wind around; move along a circular course;
Round the bend

Round

Make round;
Round the edges

Round

Be around;
Developments surround the town
The river encircles the village

Round

Pronounce with rounded lips

Round

Attack in speech or writing;
The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker

Round

Bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state;
Polish your social manners

Round

Express as a round number;
Round off the amount

Round

Become round, plump, or shapely;
The young woman is fleshing out

Round

Having a circular shape

Round

(of sounds) full and rich;
Orotund tones
The rotund and reverberating phrase
Pear-shaped vowels

Round

(of numbers) to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand;
In round numbers

Round

From beginning to end; throughout;
It rains all year round on Skye
Frigid weather the year around

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