catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Circular \Cir"cu*lar\, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle:
     cf. F. circulaire. See Circle.]
     1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
  
     2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point
        of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular
        reasoning.
  
     3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence,
        mean; inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic.
  
              Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered
              to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?
                                                    --Dennis.
  
     4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a
        common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation;
        as, a circular letter.
  
              A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless
              circular throughout England.          --Hallam.
  
     5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.]
  
              A man so absolute and circular In all those
              wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive.
                                                    --Massinger.
  
     Circular are, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
        
  
     Circular cubics (Math.), curves of the third order which
        are imagined to pass through the two circular points at
        infinity.
  
     Circular functions. (Math.) See under Function.
  
     Circular instruments, mathematical instruments employed for
        measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round
        the whole circumference of a circle, or 360[deg].
  
     Circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
        sines, tangents, secants, etc.
  
     Circular note or letter.
        (a) (Com.) See under Credit.
        (b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a
            number of persons.
  
     Circular numbers (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in
        the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose
        squares are 25 and 36. --Bailey. --Barlow.
  
     Circular points at infinity (Geom.), two imaginary points
        at infinite distance through which every circle in the
        plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass.
  
     Circular polarization. (Min.) See under Polarization.
  
     Circular or Globular sailing (Naut.), the method of
        sailing by the arc of a great circle.
  
     Circular saw. See under Saw.