round English · revision 3472

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300 (Kyng Alisaunder)|origins=la rotundus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /raʊnd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|round]], [[bor|xno|rounde]] and [[m|fro|roont]], earlier [[m|fro|reont]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-vul|*retundus]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) a dissimilated form of [[la|rotundus|t=wheel-shaped, round]], from [[m|la|rota|t=wheel]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) The French word was also borrowed into Dutch [[m|nl|rond]] and German [[m|de|rund]].^(Etymonline) The preposition is perhaps partly an [[aphesis|alt=aphetic]] form of [[around]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Spherical or circular: before 1300, in ''Kyng Alisaunder'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1290;^(OED 1989) and of persons, “plump”, about 1290.^(OED 1989) It occurs as a surname in the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adverb it is from about 1300.^(Etymonline) The noun, “a spherical body”, is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) Of numbers, “entire, complete”, it is from the mid-14th century, and ''round number'', an approximate one, by the 1640s.^(Etymonline) The verb “to make round” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) “to make a circuit of” from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “to express as an approximate number” from 1934.^(Etymonline) Many noun senses developed from the idea of a circle or circuit: a round dance and a song sung in canon from the 1520s, a sentry's circuit from the 1590s, hence ''make one's rounds'', a round of drinks from the 1630s, a round of ammunition from 1725, a round of golf from 1775, and a bout in boxing from 1812.^(Etymonline) The preposition, as in ''round the world'', is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) ''Round trip'' is by 1844.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – spherical; plump.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – of numbers, complete.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – verb, to make round.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – a round dance; a sung round.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – preposition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – a round of drinks.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1725 – a round of ammunition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – a round in boxing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1844 – ''round trip''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – verb, to round a number.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shaped like a circle, ball or cylinder; curved.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Plump; full.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Complete, whole; of a number, expressed approximately.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Moving in a circle; going and returning: ''a round trip''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something round, as a circle, disk or ring.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A series of regular visits or events; a circuit: ''the doctor's rounds''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A single stage of a competition or a bout in a boxing match.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A drink for each member of a group.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A single shot or unit of [[ammunition]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(music)'' A song in which voices enter in turn with the same melody; a [[canon]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become round.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To go round: ''round the corner''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To express as a round number: ''round up'', ''round down''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To complete: ''round off''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a circle; around.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Around; throughout: ''round the clock''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[roundness]]

+ * [[all-round]]

+ * [[roundabout]]

+ * [[roundwood]]

+ * [[roundworm]]

+ * [[semiround]]

+ * [[subround]]

+ * [[unround]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rotund]]

+ * [[rotunda]]

+ * [[rotary]]

+ * [[rota]]

+ * [[roll]]

+ * [[around]]

+ * [[rondo]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An archaic verb ''round'', “to whisper”, is a different word, from Old English [[m|ang|rūnian]], from [[m|ang|rūn|t=secret]] (see [[rune]]), with a parasitic ''d''.^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}