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go round

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To spin in circles, to visit a friend at home, or to be enough for everyone in a group.

Literal meaning: To travel in a circular path around something.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To move in a circle or to travel around an obstacle.

"The earth goes round the sun once every year."

"And yet it moves — it goes round."

— Attributed to Galileo Galilei, after his trial (1633); traditional paraphrase.
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 idiomatic informal

To visit someone informally, usually at their home.

"I'm going round to Sarah's after dinner — want to come?"

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To be sufficient in quantity for all the people present.

"There aren't enough chairs to go round, so some people will have to stand."

Grammar: inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic informal

For a rumour, illness, or idea to spread or circulate among people.

"There's a nasty flu going round the office this week."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Primarily British English; American English prefers 'go around'. The sense of 'visiting someone' is very conversational. The sense of 'being enough for everyone' (e.g. 'Is there enough to go round?') is a fixed idiomatic expression.

Commonly used with

corner obstacle friend's house enough rumour idea

Forms

Base
go round
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes round
he/she/it
Past simple
went round
yesterday
Past participle
gone round
have + pp
-ing form
going round
continuous

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