Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - around

~1 adv 1 used to say that something is placed or arranged so that it surrounds something else  (The winner held up his trophy, with many of the spectators crowded around. | a bouquet of a dozen red roses, with a silver ribbon wrapped around | all around)  (The prison was set on an island, with high walls all around.) 2 only after verb used to say that someone or something is moving in a circular movement  (She watched the cogs and wheels going around silently.) 3 sit/stand/lie etc around to sit, stand etc without doing anything in particular, especially so that people think you are wasting time  (There were a few suspicious looking people hanging around outside.) 4 fool/mess etc around used to mean that someone is wasting time by doing something stupid or dishonest  (Stop messing around! I know you've hidden it.) 5 only after verb in many places or in many different parts of a particular area  (Don't leave all your papers lying around - anyone could read them. | When I finished college, I travelled around for a while before I got my first job. | Since it's your first day here, would you like me to show you around?) 6 if someone is around, they are in the same place as you  (He went down to the sports centre but there was no-one around that he knew. | Why is there never a policeman around when you need one?) 7 the best... around/the most exciting... around etc used to say that someone or something is the best, the most exciting thing of this kind  (East 17 are one of the most popular groups around.) 8 get around to (doing) sth to finally do something that you have been intending to do for a long time  (I'll get around to the decorating one of these days.) 9 facing in the opposite direction  (Slowly he turned the boat around, hoping the patrol would not hear the engines.) 10 have been around informal to have had experience of many different situations, so that you can deal with new situations confidently 11 2 feet/100 cms etc around AmE having a circumference of 2 feet, 100 cms etc  (- see also round2, round3) ~2 prep 1 used to say that something is placed or arranged so that it surrounds something else  (The whole family were sitting around the dinner table chatting. | She had a beautiful woollen shawl wrapped around her shoulders.) 2 used to say that someone or something is moving in a circular movement  (A few wolves were prowling around the deer's carcass. | There are reports of a light aircraft flying around and around the Sears Tower.) 3 in many places or parts of a particular area or place  (We took a wander around the garden after breakfast. | They have branches dotted around the country. | all around)  (There were flowers all around the apartment, making it look more homely.) 4 if someone or something is around a particular place, they are in or near that place  (I think he lives somewhere around the centre of town. | Is there a bank around here?) 5 if you move or go around something, you move around the side of it instead of going through or over it  (If the gate is locked you'll have to go around the side of the house.) 6 if something is organized around a particular person or thing, it is organized according to their needs, ideas, beliefs etc  (Why does everything have to be organised around what Callum wants to do? | Their whole society was built around their belief in their gods.) 7 get around to avoid or solve a particular problem or difficult situation  (How do we get around the problem of the new tax laws.) 8 around 200/5000 etc used when guessing a number, amount etc  (There must have been around 40,000 people in the stadium. | around about)  (Most guests started to make their way home around about 10 o'clock.)  (- see also round3)