around

Everyday

1. Around means on every side of something, or in a circle. tree →
2. Around means about, not exact: «around 30 people». tree →
3. Around means in different places nearby: «walk around the town». tree →
4. Around means turning to face the other way: «turn around». tree →

In the lessons

the distance all the way round a shape (perimeter); also an approximate number; phrases «turn around», «look around», «around the corner», «all around», «around the world», «get around»

Examples

• A fence goes around a yard 10 m by 6 m. tree →
• She ran around the track 4 times. tree →
• There are around 30 people. tree →
• How much ribbon goes around the box? tree →
• The Earth goes around the Sun. tree →
• Turn around and look behind you. tree →
• The shop is just around the corner. tree →
• We looked around the museum. tree →
• I'll see you around 5 o'clock. tree →
• The moon goes around the Earth in about a month. tree →
• Great white ice-bergs came drifting around them. tree →

Note

«around a shape» means perimeter: add all the sides. Trap: «around 30» means about 30, an estimate, not a sum. The Earth goes around the Sun in a year.

In Jewish tradition

the distance all the way round a shape (perimeter); also an approximate number; phrases «turn around», «look around», «around the corner», «all around», «around the world», «get around»

Examples

• Drawing the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet around the edge of a circle, it takes 231 lines, here called שְׁעָרִים sheʽarim ‘gates’, to connect every possible combination of 2 letters. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

«around a shape» means perimeter: add all the sides. Trap: «around 30» means about 30, an estimate, not a sum. The Earth goes around the Sun in a year.