semicircle

[ sem-i-sur-kuhl ]

noun

1. Also called sem·i·cir·cum·fer·ence [sem-ee-ser-, kuhm, -fer-, uh, ns, -fr, uh, ns, sem-ahy-]. half of a circle; the arc from one end of a diameter to the other.
2. anything having or arranged in the form of a half of a circle.

semicircle

/ ˌsɛmɪˈsɜːkjʊlə; ˈsɛmɪˌsɜːkəl /

noun

1. 1. one half of a circle
   2. half the circumference of a circle
2. anything having the shape or form of half a circle

Derived Forms

• semicircular, adjective
• ˌsemiˈcircularly, adverb

Other Words From

• sem·i·cir·cu·lar [sem-i-, sur, -ky, uh, -ler], adjective
• semi·circu·lar·ly adverb
• semi·circu·lar·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of semicircle¹

From the Latin word sēmicirculus, dating back to 1520–30. See semi-, circle

Example Sentences

The next morning, Kerry joins his counterparts on the stage of the primary convention hall, surrounded by hundreds of youth climate activists seated in a semicircle surrounding the stage.

From Time

The cap on this tree-growing mushroom is a wide semicircle, flat on the bottom and hoof-shaped on top.

From Popular-Science

In this case, the best you could do was to cut the semicircle in half, forming two quarter-circles that could be stacked directly on top of each other.

From FiveThirtyEight

He ate half of it, and he wants to save the remaining semicircle of pizza in his refrigerator.

From FiveThirtyEight

In less than sixty seconds he would become the focus of a hidden and annihilating fire from a semicircle of houses.

From The Daily Beast

He then spread his arms dramatically, drawing a semicircle of emptiness.

From The Daily Beast

When we reached high ground again the twilight was fading to a semicircle of bloodshot gray in the northwest.

From Project Gutenberg

The French troops, strung out in a great semicircle on the Ebro, were quickly concentrated.

From Project Gutenberg

On the outside, two small flights of steps, forming a semicircle, lead up to the top.

From Project Gutenberg

The temples, twenty-seven in number, are excavated in tall perpendicular cliffs, which form a semicircle.

From Project Gutenberg

Some twenty of the boys went up, and stood in a large semicircle round the desk.

From Project Gutenberg