Meaning

• (with the verb "to be") Present in the vicinity.

  "Is Clare around today?"

• (with the verb "to be") Alive; existing.

  ""How is old Bob? I heard that his health is failing."  "Oh, he's still around. He's feeling better now.""

Meaning

• So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.

  "High above, vultures circled around."

• So as to surround or be near.

  "Everybody please gather around."

• Nearly; approximately; about.

  "An adult elephant weighs around five tons."

• From place to place.

  "Look around and see what you find."

• From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.

  "He used to stay up late but his new girlfriend changed that around."

• (with turn, spin etc.) So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.

  "She spun around a few times."

• Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.

  "I asked around, and no-one really liked it."

• Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.

Meaning

• Defining a circle or closed curve containing a thing.

  "I planted a row of lilies around the statue."

• (of abstract things) Centred upon; surrounding.

  "There has been a lot of controversy around the handling of personal information."

• Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.

  "She went around the track fifty times."

• Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve.

  "The road took a brief detour around the large rock formation, then went straight on."

• Near; in the vicinity of.

  "I don't want you around me."

• At or to various places within.

  "She went around the office and got everyone to sign the card."