Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - around

 I. adverb  Etymology: Middle English, from 1a- + 2round  Date: 14th century  1.  a. in a circle or in circumference the wheel goes ~ a tree five feet ~  b. in, along, or through a circuit the road goes ~ by the lake  2.  a. on all or various sides ; in every or any direction papers lying ~ nothing for miles ~  b. in close from all sides so as to surround people crowded ~  c. in or near one's present place or situation wait ~ awhile  3.  a. here and there ; from one place to another travels ~ on business  b. to a particular place come ~ for dinner  c. — used with some verbs to indicate repeated or continued action always joking ~ when he should be serious don't play ~ with your food  4.  a. in rotation or succession another winter comes ~  b. from beginning to end ; through mild the year ~  c. in order the other way ~  5. in or to an opposite direction or position turn ~  6. with some approach to exactness ; approximately cost ~ $5  II. preposition  Date: 14th century  1.  a. on all sides of  b. so as to encircle or enclose seated ~ the table  c. so as to avoid or get past ; on or to another side of find a way ~ their objections went ~ the lake ~ the corner  d. near lives ~ Chicago ~ the turn of the century  2. in all directions outward from look ~ you  3. here and there in or throughout barnstorming ~ the country  4. so as to have a center or basis in a society organized ~ kinship ties  III. adjective  Date: 1849  1. about 1 has been up and ~ for two days  2. being in existence, evidence, or circulation the most intelligent of the artists ~ today — R. M. Coates