small circle

noun

1. a circle on a sphere, the plane of which does not pass through the center of the sphere. Compare great circle ( def 1 ).

small circle

noun

1. a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere Compare great circle

Word History and Origins

Origin of small circle¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

“I have a small circle of people whose opinions I care about,” Moss said.

From Los Angeles Times

During that first summer, there was a small circle of writers assigned to come up with back stories for the characters, and Javier Grillo-Marxuach was one of them.

From Los Angeles Times

Decades later, Reykdal’s interviews with a small circle of those involved in the long-ago deaths gets smaller when one of them is killed, and his dissertation morphs into an all-consuming investigation.

From Los Angeles Times

While the tendency might be to guard this life-enriching advice jealously, passing it along only in hushed tones to a small circle of trusted besties, I think that’s exactly the wrong approach.

From Los Angeles Times

While the tendency might be to guard this life-enriching advice jealously, passing it along only in hushed tones to a small circle of trusted besties, I think that’s exactly the wrong approach.

From Los Angeles Times