circum-原是个拉丁介词或副词，意思相当于around或 about。作为一个介（副）词性质的原生词缀，它一般附在拉丁动词词干前，构成原生动词或相应的名词与形容词。在现代英语中，它也可以充当派生词缀，加在拉丁借词前，构成的往往是科技用词。下面是几个较为常见的带circum-的派生词。

circumambulate [ circum- = around 绕;ambulate = to walk or go 行→]v. go around 绕行 / The pilgrims circumambulated the holy shrine. 朝圣者绕着圣龛行进。

circumambulation n. 环行，绕行

circumference [ circum- = around 环；fer = to bear 承担；-ence n. =thing 物=>“a line that bears or goes around 一条环行的线”→] n. the boundary line of a circle 圆周线，圆周 / The equator is the longest circumference around the earth.赤道是地球上最长的圆周线。

circumferential a. 周围的;环绕的

circumlocution [ circum-=around 环绕;locut = to speak 说;-ion n. = -ing => “around speaking 绕着说”→]n . roundabout way of speaking 迂回说法 / “The wife of your father's brother” is a circumlocution for “your aunt”. “你父亲兄弟的妻子”是 “你婶子”的迂回说法。

circumspect [ circum- =around 周围;spect = to look 视=>“to look around 环视四周”→]a. watchful on all sides; careful 周到的；谨慎的 / A politician should be quite circumspect in his behaviour.政治家应该谨言慎行。

circumspection n. 谨慎，周到