circular

Everyday

1. Circular means shaped like a circle, round: "a circular table". tree →
2. A circular route or walk goes round and ends where it started. tree →
3. A circular argument goes round in a loop: it uses what it is trying to prove as its reason. tree →
4. (noun) A circular is a letter or advert sent to many people at once. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, circular shapes have a centre, radius and diameter, and their distance around is the circumference; circular faces are on cylinders and cones. In geography and PE a circular walk or track returns to the start, so the distance is one lap. Phrases: circular motion, circular walk, circular saw, circular argument.

Examples

• We sat at a circular table. tree →
• A coin is circular. tree →
• The circular track is 400 metres round, so 3 laps are 1,200 metres. tree →
• We went on a circular walk around the lake. tree →
• A cylinder has two circular faces. tree →
• The school sent a circular to all parents. tree →
• Saying "it's true because it's true" is a circular argument. tree →
• “Ho! who is there?” called out a curious old duck, still bobbing up and down in the circular dance. tree →

Note

Circular is the adjective of circle. In maths, a circular face is flat and round; a sphere is round in every direction, not just circular. "A circular" (noun) is a letter for many people, now often an email.