An example of circumference is the distance around the outer boundary of a circle.
- the line bounding a circle, a rounded surface, or an area suggesting a circle
- the distance measured by this line
Origin of circumferenceMiddle English from Classical Latin circumferentia from circumferens, present participle of circumferre from circum, around + ferre, to carry, bear
- The boundary line of a circle.
- a. The boundary line of an area or object.b. Abbr. c or circ. The length of such a line.
- The margin or area surrounding something.
Origin of circumferenceMiddle English from Old French circonference from Latin circumferentia from circumferēns circumferent- present participle of circumferre to carry around circum- circum- ferre to carry ; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.
(third-person singular simple present circumferences, present participle circumferencing, simple past and past participle circumferenced)