Cir'cu-lar1, a.
(18), a. [Fr. circulaire, Pr. circular, Lat. circularis.]
Sense 1. Of, or pertaining to, a circle; in the form of a circle; round.
Sense 2. Repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning. “Circular successive order.” Roscommon.
Sense 3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean, inferior.
Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido? Dennis.
Sense 4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; as, a circular letter.
Sense 5. Possessing the whole circle of excellences; perfect. [Obs.]
A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive. Massinger.
Circular arc, any portion of the circumference of a circle. — Circular instruments, mathematical instruments for measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole circumference of a circle, or 360°. — Circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as sines, tangents, secants, &c. — 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 sailing (Naut.), the method of sailing by the arc of a great circle. — Circular saw. See SAW.