meaning - What is the difference between "around" and "round"?



When I am writing I often come across the words "around" and "round." I was wondering what is different between them, and how they would be used in different contexts.



Answer



According to Cambridge Dictionaries Online (British English) the two words, takens as prepositions or adverbs, are interchangeable, having the same meaning as around as used in American English.



The Moon goes round the Earth.
We ran round (the outside of the house) to the back, looking for the dog.
The idea has been going round and round in my head all day (= I can't stop thinking about it).
When one engine stopped, we had to turn round (= turn to face the opposite direction) and fly home.



This differs when round is used as an adjective, but I don't think that's what you are after.


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