Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Circular \Cir"cu*lar\, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle:
cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.]
1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point
of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular
reasoning.
3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence,
mean; inferior. See {Cyclic poets}, under {Cyclic}.
Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered
to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?
--Dennis.
4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a
common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation;
as, a circular letter.
A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless
circular throughout England. --Hallam.
5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.]
A man so absolute and circular In all those
wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive.
--Massinger.
{Circular are}, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
{Circular cubics} (Math.), curves of the third order which
are imagined to pass through the two circular points at
infinity.
{Circular functions}. (Math.) See under {Function}.
{Circular instruments}, mathematical instruments employed for
measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round
the whole circumference of a circle, or 360[deg].
{Circular lines}, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
sines, tangents, secants, etc.
{Circular} {note or letter}.
(a) (Com.) See under {Credit}.
(b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a
number of persons.
{Circular numbers} (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in
the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose
squares are 25 and 36. --Bailey. --Barlow.
{Circular points at infinity} (Geom.), two imaginary points
at infinite distance through which every circle in the
plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.
{Circular polarization}. (Min.) See under {Polarization}.
{Circular or Globular} {sailing} (Naut.), the method of
sailing by the arc of a great circle.
{Circular saw}. See under {Saw}.
Circular \Cir"cu*lar\, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle:
cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.]
1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point
of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular
reasoning.
3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence,
mean; inferior. See {Cyclic poets}, under {Cyclic}.
Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered
to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?
--Dennis.
4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a
common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation;
as, a circular letter.
A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless
circular throughout England. --Hallam.
5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.]
A man so absolute and circular In all those
wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive.
--Massinger.
{Circular are}, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
{Circular cubics} (Math.), curves of the third order which
are imagined to pass through the two circular points at
infinity.
{Circular functions}. (Math.) See under {Function}.
{Circular instruments}, mathematical instruments employed for
measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round
the whole circumference of a circle, or 360[deg].
{Circular lines}, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
sines, tangents, secants, etc.
{Circular} {note or letter}.
(a) (Com.) See under {Credit}.
(b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a
number of persons.
{Circular numbers} (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in
the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose
squares are 25 and 36. --Bailey. --Barlow.
{Circular points at infinity} (Geom.), two imaginary points
at infinite distance through which every circle in the
plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.
{Circular polarization}. (Min.) See under {Polarization}.
{Circular or Globular} {sailing} (Naut.), the method of
sailing by the arc of a great circle.
{Circular saw}. See under {Saw}.
Circular \Cir"cu*lar\, n. [Cf. (for sense 1) F. circulaire,
lettre circulaire. See {Circular}, a.]
1. A circular letter, or paper, usually printed, copies of
which are addressed or given to various persons; as, a
business circular.
2. A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.
Source : WordNet®
circular
adj 1: having a circular shape [syn: {round}] [ant: {square}]
2: shaped like a ring [syn: {annular}, {annulate}, {annulated},
{circinate}, {ringed}, {ring-shaped}, {doughnut-shaped}]
3: marked by or moving in a circle [syn: {rotary}]
circular
n : an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet)
intended for wide distribution; "he mailed the circular
to all subscribers" [syn: {handbill}, {bill}, {broadside},
{broadsheet}, {flier}, {flyer}, {throwaway}]