Circumference
/sɜːˈkʌmfərəns/
Definitions
The linear distance around the outside of a closed curve, especially a circle.
/sɜːˈkʌmfərəns/
The distance around something.
We measured the circumference of the tree trunk.
💡 Simply: Imagine a string wrapped tightly around a round object like a plate. The length of that string is the circumference! It's just how far around something is.
👶 For kids: It's how far around a circle it is!
More Examples
The circumference of the Earth is vast.
How It's Used
"The circumference of the circle is 2πr."
"The Earth's circumference is approximately 40,075 kilometers."
From Latin *circumferentia, from circumferre "to carry around," from circum- "around" + ferre "to carry, bear."
The word has been used in its current mathematical sense since at least the 14th century.
Memory tip
Think 'circum' (around) and 'ference' (to carry/bring) - carrying something around a circle.
Word Origin
"carrying around"