semicircle

noun

semi·​cir·​cle ˈse-mē-ˌsər-kəl How to pronounce semicircle (audio)
ˈse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
1
: a half of a circle
2
: an object or arrangement of objects in the form of a half circle
semicircular
ˌse-mē-ˈsər-kyə-lər How to pronounce semicircle (audio)
ˌse-ˌmī-
-mi-
adjective

Examples of semicircle in a Sentence

The children sat in a semicircle. The houses are built in a semicircle.
Recent Examples on the Web The fruit is painted on semicircles of cardboard at protests in support of Palestinians. Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2023 Broward school district holds first event on school closures In the small breakout group that Rivera was in, about 20 people sat in a semicircle. Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 The boxes move, splitting to the left and to the right, making a semicircle around Parks and Cooke, left standing in the center. Ellise Pierce, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 The first responders gathered in the ER in a semicircle. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 This tool was constructed so that the clamping rim was a wider and flatter shape than the typical semicircle, which doesn’t always work for everyone’s eyes. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 9 July 2023 The image shows a semicircle made up of people surrounding an object on the southwest side of the church. Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 7 July 2023 Curved in a semicircle around an open-air lobby, two oceanfront pools, and a secluded bay, the residences come in configurations of one- to four-bedroom suites. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023 The team formed a semicircle in front of the mosaic and decided to allow themselves a flasher’s amuse-bouche to the next day’s feast. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semicircle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin semicirculus, from semi- + circulus circle

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of semicircle was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near semicircle

Cite this Entry

“Semicircle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semicircle. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

semicircle

noun
semi·​cir·​cle ˈsem-i-ˌsər-kəl How to pronounce semicircle (audio)
1
: half of a circle
2
: an object or arrangement of objects in the form of a half circle
semicircular adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on semicircle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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