01 a. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
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1.
In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
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2.
repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.
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3.
Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic. See: Cyclic“Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?” — Dennis.
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4.
Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular letter.“A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless circular throughout England.” — Hallam.
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5.
Perfect; complete.[Obs.]“A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive.” — Massinger.
Phrases & compounds
Circular are —
any portion of the circumference of a circle.
Circular cubics —
curves of the third order which are imagined to pass through the two circular points at infinity.
Circular functions —
See under Function.
Circular instruments —
mathematical instruments employed for measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole circumference of a circle, or 360°.
Circular lines —
straight lines pertaining to the circle, as sines, tangents, secants, etc.
Circular note —
See under Credit.
Circular numbers —
those whose powers terminate in the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose squares are 25 and 36.
Circular points at infinity —
two imaginary points at infinite distance through which every circle in the plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.
Circular polarization —
See under Polarization.
Circular sailing —
the method of sailing by the arc of a great circle.
Circular saw —
See under Saw.