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Glite Dictionary
to circumambulate

to circumambulate

1 9.9
To walk all the way around something, often as part of a religious ceremony
  • verb
  • /ˌsɜrkəmˈæmbjʊˌleɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : circunvalar
  • During the festival, we will circumambulate the sacred fire as part of the ceremony.

Either way we circumambulated, unsure which the ballot box are Kaaba stone, Black Rock.

Examples

  • Ya'qubi describes this as a power struggle between the Damascus caliphate and rebels in Arabia, and claims that for decades pilgrims circumambulated the Dome.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The Udon's piece asks us to circumambulate the rock.

  • Either way we circumambulated, unsure which the ballot box are Kaaba stone, Black Rock.

    Harvard University

  • Since the Venerable Ustez will be late, we should follow the local custom and circumambulate the mosque for luck.

    Blog text (3)

  • Some people's path may (for the moment) be just to burn some incense, circumambulate a stupa, or hang a picture of the Buddha from their rearview mirror.

    Blog text (2)

  • The hermeneuticist begins to circumambulate the boundary, to "see" the phenomenon from the infinite number of vantage points on the circle, always maintaining an ever-increasing sense of unity with the center as the circumambulation continues.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Just a few hours later, early in the morning of Ledam Boku ('Men's Day'), citizens persuade Etangala, a masquerade associated with a spirit that protects crops, to leave his forest abode and to circumambulate the town.

    Academic text (2008)

  • As part of their pilgrimage, they traditionally circumambulate the shrine three times.

  • Before the wedding ceremony, the couple will circumambulate the altar to symbolize their commitment.

Synonyms

to circle
vsto circumambulate
210 1.8

To move around something in a circle

is used mainly for ritual or ceremonial walking
to walk around
vsto circumambulate
46 1.1

To go on foot around the edge of something instead of through it

is performed as part of a ritual or ceremony
to circle around
vsto circumambulate
21 2.3

Move in a round path around someone or something

is used mainly for ritual walking rather than casual repeated motion
to circle round
vsto circumambulate
3.5

Move around something or someone in a circle

is typically performed as a ritual circuit by participants
to perambulating
vsto circumambulate
8.2

To walk slowly without a clear purpose

is done with ritual intent rather than leisure or aimless strolling

Antonyms

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

How Far

to orbit
  • Specialized
126 3.9
to circumambulate
  • Formal
1 9.9

Surface Forms

circumambulate infinitive
circumambulated past
circumambulated past participle
circumambulating present participle
circumambulates third person singular

Morphology

circumambulate = ambulate (semi-transparent) = circum + ambulate

The meaning is a regular combination of the prefix 'circum-' (around) and 'ambulate' (to walk), but both elements are Latinate and relatively rare in everyday English, so many learners may not immediately recognise them.

Etymology

Circumambulate comes from the Latin parts circum- 'around' and ambul- 'to walk'. So it literally means to 'walk around' something, and you can see ambul- in the word amble, which helps remember the idea of walking around, often as a ritual.