collocations.org

Collocations for circle - noun

1. shape

ADJ.

complete, full
The stones form a complete circle. | How long does it take for the dial to rotate through a full circle?
concentric | widening
The water rippled in widening circles round the fountain.
overlapping
a design of overlapping circles
tight
He turned the car in a tight circle.
half | Antarctic, Arctic, polar

VERB + CIRCLE

draw | describe
(technical),
go around/round in
If you follow the road signs you will simply find yourself going round in a circle.
form, make | cut out

PREP.

in a/the ~
The children stood in a circle. | The planets move in circles round the sun.
~ of

PHRASES

the area/circumference/diameter/radius of a circle, the centre/middle of a circle

2. group of people

ADJ.

wide
She has a wide circle of acquaintances.
narrow, small | charmed, close/closed, intimate, magic, select
He invited only a select circle of friends to the wedding.
exalted, high | immediate
They treat anyone outside their immediate circle with suspicion.
inner
He''s joined the inner circles of the court early in his career.
academic, aristocratic, artistic, business, court, diplomatic, government, intellectual, literary, official, political, royal, social, sporting, theatrical ~s
She moves in the highest social circles.
family

VERB + CIRCLE

have | move in
My brother and I move in completely different circles (= we have very different friends).
join | widen
You need to widen your circle of friends.

PREP.

in a/the ~
Talk of religion was forbidden in the family circle. | friends in government circles

PHRASES

a circle of acquaintances/admirers/friends

3. in a theatre

ADJ.

dress, upper
Our seats are in the front row of the dress circle.

Collocations for circle - verb

1. move in a circle

ADV.

slowly
The helicopter was circling slowly, very low.
overhead
A buzzard was circling overhead.

PREP.

above
Several airliners were circling above the airport.
around/round
The vultures were already circling around the dead animal.

2. draw a circle round sth

PHRASES

circle sth in black, red, etc.
She circled her birthday in red on the calendar.

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