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around [ ə równd ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate that something surrounds a place or object or is situated on or moves from place to place on all sides of it
  (prep) She came in and looked at the mess all around her.
(prep) A crumbling wall still stood around the old town.
(adv) From this spot you could see the countryside for miles around. |
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1. preposition to other side of: moving or looking to the other side of
There is a chemist's around the corner.
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2. preposition surrounding: so as to surround or be on all sides of
a belt around his waist
A crowd gathered around them.
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3. preposition turning on axis: revolving round a centre or axis
(prep) satellites moving around the planet
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4. preposition in all directions: situated, moving, or happening in all directions from a central point of reference
(adv) The area was built up for several kilometres around.
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5. preposition regarding: with regard to
There is a lot of anxiety around the issue of change.
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6. preposition so as to avoid: so as to sidestep or otherwise avoid something unpleasant or difficult
finally found a way around the problem
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7. preposition to everyone: to all members in a group, from person to person
(adv) passed the plate of sandwiches around
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8. preposition US near: in the near vicinity of
She lives around the Boston area.
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9. adverb to reversed position: in or to a different or the opposite direction
wheeled around and jogged off
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10. adverb present: in existence
since computers have been around
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11. adverb in various places: positioned here and there
There were vases of flowers around the room.
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12. adverb at hand: in the vicinity, sometimes with no definite purpose or intent
lounged around in the hotel lobby
Is the boss around?
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13. adverb in various directions: from place to place in different directions or in no particular direction
rushing around
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14. adverb in circulation: available, prevalent, or in circulation
There's lots of illness around at the moment.
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15. adverb approximately: close to in number, time, or degree
around £600 a month
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16. adverb alive or existing: present, alive, or in existence
(
informal
)
What's amazing is that nearly everyone from that era is still around.
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| [13th century. <a-1 'on' + round1, probably after Old French a la reond 'in the round, roundabout'] |
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have been around to have had enough experience of life and the ways of the world not to be easily deceived (informal)
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