Around Definition
ə-round
adverb
On all sides.
Dirty clothes lying around.
American Heritage
Round.
Webster's New World
In close to all sides from all directions.
A field bordered around with tall trees.
American Heritage
Within a close periphery; nearby.
Stay around.
Webster's New World
In a circle or with a circular motion.
Spun around twice.
American Heritage
preposition
On all sides of.
Trees around the field.
American Heritage
On the circumference, border, or outer part of.
Webster's New World
In such a position as to encircle or surround.
A sash around the waist.
American Heritage
So as to encircle.
Webster's New World
Here and there within; throughout.
On the political stump around the country.
American Heritage
adjective
Being in existence.
Our old dog is no longer around.
American Heritage
On the move; about.
He's up and around now.
Webster's New World
Being in evidence; present.
Asked if the store manager was around.
American Heritage
Existing; living.
When dinosaurs were around.
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Around
- been around
- have been around
Origin of Around
-
From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”), equivalent to a- + round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)). See umbe.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English probably a- in a–2 round circle round1
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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