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Glite Dictionary
circum-

circum-

1 6.3
Letters you add to the start of a word to show going around something
  • other
  • Specialized
: circum-
  • The circum- is a prefix that indicates something is located around or about something else, as in 'circumference.'

Examples

  • It's part of what seismologists call the circum Pacific seismic belt or earthquake belt.

  • So it shows a circum binary planetary system.

  • The term 'circumference' refers to the distance around a circle.

  • In geography, 'circumnavigate' means to travel around the entire globe.

Surface Forms

circum- main

Etymology

Circum- comes from a Latin word that means 'around', and you can see the same root in circle and circumference. So circum- usually gives the idea of going 'around' or 'about' something, as in circumnavigate, to sail around, or circumvent, to go around a problem.