around

alrededor

around(uh-raund)

adverb

1. (in all directions)

a. alrededor

He was looking around but couldn't spot us.

Miraba a su alrededor, pero no nos localizó.

2. (in the vicinity)

a. por aquí

I know he's around somewhere.

Sé que anda por aquí en algún lugar.

3. (in existence)

a.

no direct translation

Email was not around back then; you would fax things instead.

El correo electrónico no existía en ese entonces; las cosas se mandaban por fax.

There aren't many of us around.

No somos muchos.

preposition

4. (in all parts of)

a.

no direct translation

The lion was pacing around his enclosure.

El león caminaba en círculos por su recinto.

They showed us around their new house.

Nos mostraron su nueva casa.

5. (encircling)

a. alrededor de

We gathered around the fire to tell ghost stories.

Nos sentamos alrededor de la fogata para contar cuentos de fantasmas.

b. en torno a

The fans crowded around the actor to ask for his autograph.

Los fans se apiñaron en torno al actor para pedirle su autógrafo.

6. (approximately)

a. aproximadamente

A flight to London typically costs around a thousand dollars.

Un vuelo a Londres normalmente cuesta aproximadamente mil dólares.

b. alrededor de

Why don't you come here around five o'clock?

¿Por qué no vienes para acá alrededor de las cinco?

around

preposition

1. (indicating position)

a. alrededor de

around the tableen torno a la mesa

there were hills all around the townla ciudad estaba rodeada de colinas

around herepor aquí (cerca)

2. (indicating motion)

a.

to look around the roommirar por toda la habitación

to travel around the worldviajar por todo el mundo

to walk around the town/the streetscaminar por la ciudad/las calles

adverb

3. (surrounding)

a. alrededor

a garden with a fence aroundun jardín rodeado por una valla

there were open fields all aroundestábamos rodeados de campo por todas partes

for miles arounden millas a la redonda

4. (in different directions)

a.

to walk aroundpasear (por ahí)

there were books lying all aroundhabía libros por todas partes

5. (in the general area)

a.

is Jack around?¿está Jack por ahí?

there was nobody aroundno había nadie

there's never a policeman around when you need onenunca hay un policía a mano cuando lo necesitas

6. (approximately)

a.

around thirtyunos treinta

around ten yearsunos diez años

at around one o'clockalrededor de la una

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

around [əˈraʊnd]

When around is an element in a phrasal verb, eg look around, move around, potter around, look up the verb.

adverb

alrededor; en los alrededores

is he around? ¿está por aquí?; there's a lot of flu around hay mucha gripe por ahí

all around por todos lados

she's been around (travelled) ha viajado mucho; ha visto mucho mundo; (experienced) se las sabe todas

around here por aquí

is there a chemist's around here? ¿hay alguna farmacia por aquí?

we're looking around for a house estamos buscando casa

for miles around en muchas millas a la redonda

he must be somewhere around debe de estar por aquí

preposition

1 alrededor de

she wore a scarf around her neck llevaba una bufanda alrededor del cuello; she ignored the people around her ignoró a la gente que estaba a su alrededor

it's just around the corner

to wander around the town pasearse por la ciudad

there were books all around the house había libros en todas partes de la casa or por toda la casa

to go around the world dar la vuelta al mundo

round corner

2 (approximately) aproximadamente; alrededor de

it costs around £100 cuesta alrededor de or aproximadamente 100 libras; around 50 50 más o menos; he must be around 50 debe de tener unos 50 años; around 1950 alrededor de 1950; hacia 1950; around two o'clock a eso de las dos