from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Round \Round\, a. [OF. roond, roont, reond, F. rond, fr. L.
rotundus, fr. rota wheel. See {Rotary}, and cf. {Rotund},
{roundel}, {Rundlet}.]
1. Having every portion of the surface or of the
circumference equally distant from the center; spherical;
circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a
circular shape; orbicular; globular; as, a round ball.
"The big, round tears." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Upon the firm opacous globe
Of this round world. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as, the barrel
of a musket is round.
[1913 Webster]
3. Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the
arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface
of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or
pointed; as, a round arch; round hills. "Their round
haunches gored." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately
in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; -- said of
numbers.
[1913 Webster]
Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than
the fraction. --Arbuthnot.
[1913 Webster]
5. Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as, a
round price.
[1913 Webster]
Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon.
--Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
6. Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as, a round voice; a
round note.
[1913 Webster]
7. (Phonetics) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the
lip opening, making the opening more or less round in
shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to
Pronunciation, [sect] 11.
[1913 Webster]
8. Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not
mincing; as, a round answer; a round oath. "The round
assertion." --M. Arnold.
[1913 Webster]
Sir Toby, I must be round with you. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
9. Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt;
finished; polished; -- said of style, or of authors with
reference to their style. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant.
--Peacham.
[1913 Webster]
10. Complete and consistent; fair; just; -- applied to
conduct.
[1913 Webster]
Round dealing is the honor of man's nature.
--Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
{At a round rate}, rapidly. --Dryden.
{In round numbers}, approximately in even units, tens,
hundreds, etc.; as, a bin holding 99 or 101 bushels may be
said to hold in round numbers 100 bushels.
{Round bodies} (Geom.), the sphere right cone, and right
cylinder.
{Round clam} (Zool.), the quahog.
{Round dance} one which is danced by couples with a whirling
or revolving motion, as the waltz, polka, etc.
{Round game}, a game, as of cards, in which each plays on his
own account.
{Round hand}, a style of penmanship in which the letters are
formed in nearly an upright position, and each separately
distinct; -- distinguished from running hand.
{Round robin}. [Perhaps F. round round + ruban ribbon.]
(a) A written petition, memorial, remonstrance, protest,
etc., the signatures to which are made in a circle so
as not to indicate who signed first. "No round robins
signed by the whole main deck of the Academy or the
Porch." --De Quincey.
(b) (Zool.) The cigar fish.
{Round shot}, a solid spherical projectile for ordnance.
{Round Table}, the table about which sat King Arthur and his
knights. See {Knights of the Round Table}, under {Knight}.
{Round tower}, one of certain lofty circular stone towers,
tapering from the base upward, and usually having a
conical cap or roof, which crowns the summit, -- found
chiefly in Ireland. They are of great antiquity, and vary
in heigh from thirty-five to one hundred and thiry feet.
{Round trot}, one in which the horse throws out his feet
roundly; a full, brisk, quick trot. --Addison.
{Round turn} (Naut.), one turn of a rope round a timber, a
belaying pin, etc.
{To bring up with a round turn}, to stop abruptly. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Circular; spherical; globular; globase; orbicular;
orbed; cylindrical; full; plump; rotund.
[1913 Webster]