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round

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adverb, preposition British British English pronunciation: round /raʊnd/
Round can be used in the following ways:
as a preposition (followed by a noun): We travelled round the country.
as an adverb (without a following noun): She turned round and ran back to the house.
 
  1. 1
    used for showing movement
    1. a.
      moving in a circular way

      The children were dancing round in a circle.

      round and round:

      The bird flew round and round the room, unable to escape.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    2. b.
      moving to many different parts or areas

      He wandered round the town, looking in shop windows.

      That dog used to follow me round everywhere.

      There have been lots of stories going round, but I don’t believe any of them.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    3. c.
      moving so that you face in the opposite direction

      Katharine spun round to face him.

      The car stopped, turned round, and came back towards us.

      I heard a voice behind me and looked round.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    4. d.
      moving so that you can get to the opposite side of something

      A number 26 bus was just coming round the corner into Station Road.

      He walked round to the back of the building.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    5. e.
      going by a road that is not the most direct way
      round by:

      We can go round by the shops on our way home and buy something for supper.

      all round:

      We had to go all round the town to get here.

    6. f.
      informal going to visit someone’s house

      Why don’t you invite him round for dinner?

      I was just going round to see Lindsey about babysitting.

  2. 2
    used for showing where someone or something is
    1. a.
      surrounding or enclosing something

      He tied one end of the rope round his waist.

      There was a high brick wall round the garden.

      The children crowded round to see what was happening.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    2. b.
      in many different parts or areas

      Books and papers were scattered round the room.

      all round:

      All round the country factories were closing.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    3. c.
      in or close to a particular place or area

      She loved the countryside round Oxford.

      round here:

      Do you live round here?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
    4. d.
      at someone’s house

      I’m not sure where he is, but he may be round at Patrick’s.

      We’ll be round at nine o’clock in the morning.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round
  3. 3
    when someone is searching for something
    1. a.
      used for saying that someone looks in different places because they want to find something

      She looked round the room for Leo, but he was nowhere to be seen.

      Someone’s been rummaging round in my office.

    2. b.
      used for saying that someone asks many different people in order to find something

      I’ve phoned round the local pubs and restaurants – they’re all fully booked.

      It’s a good idea to shop round and compare prices.

  4. 4
    spending time in a place and not doing much

    They spend all their time sitting round drinking coffee.

    Why don’t you find yourself something to do instead of just hanging round?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  roundThesaurus entry for this meaning of round

phrases

This is the British English definition of round. View American English definition of round.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 

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