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1 N‑UNCOUNT The circumference of a circle, place, or round object is the distance around its edge. □  …a scientist calculating the Earth's circumference. □  The island is 3.5 km in circumference.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The circumference of a circle, place, or round object is its edge. □ [+ of ] Cut the salmon into long strips and wrap it round the circumference of the bread.

cir|cum|flex /sɜː ^r kəmfleks/ (circumflexes ) N‑COUNT A circumflex or a circumflex accent is a symbol written over a vowel in French and other languages, usually to indicate that it should be pronounced longer than usual. It is used for example in the word 'rôle'.

cir|cum|lo|cu|tion /sɜː ^r kəmloʊkjuː ʃ ^ə n/ (circumlocutions ) N‑VAR A circumlocution is a way of saying or writing something using more words than are necessary instead of being clear and direct. [FORMAL ]

cir|cum|navi|gate /sɜː ^r kəmnæ v I ge I t/ (circumnavigates , circumnavigating , circumnavigated ) VERB If someone circumnavigates the world or an island, they sail all the way around it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] For this year at least, our race to circumnavigate the globe in less than 80 days is over.

cir|cum|scribe /sɜː ^r kəmskra I b/ (circumscribes , circumscribing , circumscribed ) VERB If someone's power or freedom is circumscribed , it is limited or restricted. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] The army evidently fears that, under him, its activities would be severely circumscribed. □ [V n] There are laws circumscribing the right of individual citizens to cause bodily harm to others.

cir|cum|spect /sɜː ^r kəmspekt/ ADJ If you are circumspect , you are cautious in what you do and say and do not take risks. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] The banks should have been more circumspect in their dealings. ●  cir|cum|spect|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  You should behave as circumspectly as possible in political matters.

cir|cum|spec|tion /sɜː ^r kəmspe kʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with N ] Circumspection is cautious behaviour and a refusal to take risks. [FORMAL ] □  This is a region to be treated with circumspection.

cir|cum|stance ◆◇◇ /sɜː ^r kəmstæns/ (circumstances )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The circumstances of a particular situation are the conditions which affect what happens. □  Recent opinion polls show that 60 percent favor abortion under certain circumstances. □  I wish we could have met under happier circumstances.

2 N‑PLURAL The circumstances of an event are the way it happened or the causes of it. □ [+ of ] I'm making inquiries about the circumstances of Mary Dean's murder. □  Hundreds of people had died there in terrible circumstances during and after the revolution.

3 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Your circumstances are the conditions of your life, especially the amount of money that you have. □  …help and support for the single mother, whatever her circumstances. □  I wouldn't have expected to find you in such comfortable circumstances.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Events and situations which cannot be controlled are sometimes referred to as circumstance . □  There are those, you know, who, by circumstance, end up homeless. □  You might say that we've been victims of circumstance.

5 PHRASE You can emphasize that something must not or will not happen by saying that it must not or will not happen under any circumstances . [EMPHASIS ] □  She made it clear that under no circumstances would she cancel the trip.