cir·cum·fer·ence (s?r-k?m?f?r-?ns)n.1. The boundary line of a circle.2. a. The boundary line of an area or object.b. Abbr. c or circ. The length of such a line.3. The margin or area surrounding something.[Middle English, from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferentia, from circumfer?ns, circumferent-, present participle of circumferre, to carry around : circum-, circum- + ferre, to carry; see bher- in Indo-European roots.]cir·cum?fer·en?tial (-f?-r?n?sh?l) adj.Synonyms: circumference, circuit, compass, perimeter, periphery These nouns refer to a boundary or area around the outer edge of something: drove around the circumference of the city; followed the circuit around the park; stayed within the compass of the schoolyard; walked the perimeter of the estate; fenced the periphery of the property.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.circumference (s??k?mf?r?ns) n1. (Mathematics) the boundary of a specific area or geometric figure, esp of a circle2. (Mathematics) the length of a closed geometric curve, esp of a circle. The circumference of a circle is equal to the diameter multiplied by ?[C14: from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferre to carry around, from circum- + ferre to bear] circumferential adj cir?cumfer?entially advCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014cir?cum?fer?ence (s?r?k?m f?r ?ns) n. 1. the outer boundary, esp. of a circular area; perimeter: The circumference of a circle is equal to ? times the diameter. 2. the length of such a boundary. [1350?1400; Middle English