What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Circle vs Dot - What's the difference?

circle | dot |

In obsolete terms the difference between circle and dot

is that circle is compass; circuit; enclosure while dot is a lump or clot.

In transitive terms the difference between circle and dot

is that circle is to place or mark a circle around while dot is to add a dot (the symbol) or dots to.

As a preposition dot is

dot product of the previous vector and the following vector.

As a proper noun Dot is

diminutive of the female given name Dorothy.

As an acronym DOT is

department of Transportation.

circle

English

(wikipedia circle)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (lb) A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from another point.
  • :The set of all points (x'', ''y'') such that (x-1)2 + y2 = r2 is a circle of radius ''r around
  • A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance from another point.
  • Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
  • :
  • A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
  • :
  • Orbit.
  • A specific group of persons.
  • :
  • * (1800-1859)
  • *:As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened.
  • *
  • *:At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle , a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
  • *
  • *:“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers,, the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"
  • *1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)
  • *:The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles .
  • (lb) A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.
  • (lb) A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the air with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
  • (lb) A traffic circle or roundabout.
  • *2011 , Charles E. Webb, Downfall and Freedom , p.120:
  • *:He arrived at the lakefront and drove around the circle where the amusement park and beach used to be when he was a kid
  • (lb) Compass; circuit; enclosure.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:in the circle of this forest
  • (lb) An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle''; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a ''meridian'' or ''transit circle''; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a ''reflecting circle''; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a ''repeating circle .
  • A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain.
  • (lb) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
  • *(Joseph Glanvill) (1636-1680)
  • *:That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing.
  • Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
  • * (1579-1625)
  • *:Has he given the lie, / In circle , or oblique, or semicircle.
  • A territorial division or district.
  • :

    • Synonyms

    * (two-dimensional outline geometric figure) coil (not in mathematical use), ring (not in mathematical use), loop (not in mathematical use) * (two-dimensional solid geometric figure) disc/disk (in mathematical and general use), round (not in mathematical use; UK & Commonwealth only ) * (curve) arc, curve * (orbit) orbit * (a specific group of persons) bunch, gang, group

    Derived terms

    * arctic circle

    Related terms

    * circular * circularity * circulate * circus

    Verb

    (circl)
  • To travel around along a curved path.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Other planets circle other suns.
  • To surround.
  • * Dampier
    • Their heads are circled with a short turban.
  • * Coleridge
    • So he lies, circled with evil.
  • To place or mark a circle around.
    • Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
  • To travel in circles.
    • Vultures circled overhead.

    Derived terms

    * circle the drain

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words

    dot

    English

    (wikipedia dot)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small spot.
    • a dot of colour
  • (grammar) A punctuation mark used to indicate the end of a sentence or an abbreviated part of a word; a full stop; a period.
  • A diacritical mark comprised of a small opaque circle above or below any of various letters of the Latin script. Examples include: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, etc.
  • (mathematics) A symbol used for separating the fractional part of a decimal number from the whole part, for indicating multiplication or a scalar product, or for various other purposes.
  • One of the two symbols used in Morse code.
  • (obsolete) A lump or clot.
  • Anything small and like a speck comparatively; a small portion or specimen.
    • a dot of a child
  • (cricket, informal) A dot ball.
    • Synonyms
    * (small spot) speck, spot * (at the end of a sentence or abbreviation) full stop (British), period (US), point * (as a diacritic) tittle (over the letters i and j) * (sense) decimal point * (in Morse code) dit
    Derived terms
    (terms derived from dot) * centered dot, centred dot * connect the dots * dotcom * dot matrix * dot matrix printer * dot product * dottel * dottle * dotty * join the dots * middle dot * off one's dot * on the dot * polka dot * the year dot

    Verb

    (dott)
  • To cover with small spots (of some liquid).
    • His jacket was dotted with splashes of paint.
  • To add a dot (the symbol) or dots to.
    • Dot your i''s and cross your ''t s.
  • To mark by means of dots or small spots.
    • to dot a line
  • To mark or diversify with small detached objects.
    • to dot a landscape with cottages
    Derived terms
    * dot do dot * dot the i's and cross the t's

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Dot product of the previous vector and the following vector.
    • The work is equal to F dot ?x.
    Coordinate terms
    * *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) dot.

    Alternative forms

    * dote

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, Louisiana) A dowry.
  • * 1919 , , (The Moon and Sixpence) ,
    • "Have you the pictures still?" I asked.
    "Yes; I am keeping them till my daughter is of marriageable age, and then I shall sell them. They will be her dot ."
  • * 1927 , Anna Bowman Dodd, Talleyrand: the Training of a Statesman :
    • As a bride, Madame de Talleyrand had brought a small dot of fifteen thousand francs to the family fund.

    Anagrams

    * ----