different between ahead vs around

English

Etymology

a- +? head

(nautical) Beyond the head (of a ship). This may have drifted into more general English usage where it is used to describe something as being 'in front of'.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??h?d/
• Rhymes: -?d
• Hyphenation: ahead

Adverb

ahead (not comparable)

1. In or to the front; in advance; onward.

2. In the direction one is facing or moving.

3. In or for the future.

4. At an earlier time.

5. Having progressed more.

Antonyms

• (nautical) astern
• behind

Hyponyms

• straight ahead

Derived terms

• ahead of time
• go-ahead

Related terms

• ahead of

Translations

Anagrams

• aahed

English

Alternative forms

• arownd (obsolete), ron (Bermuda), 'round

Etymology

From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”) borrowed from French, equivalent to a- +? round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)). See umbe.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /???a?nd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???æwnd/
• Rhymes: -a?nd
• Hyphenation: a?round

Preposition

around

1. Defining a circle or closed curve containing a thing.
2. (of abstract things) Centred upon; surrounding.
3. Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.

4. Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve.
5. Near; in the vicinity of.

6. At or to various places within.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

around (not comparable)

1. (informal, with the verb "to be") Present in the vicinity.

2. (informal, with the verb "to be") Alive; existing.

Derived terms

• be around

Translations

Adverb

around (not comparable)

1. So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.

   High above, vultures circled around.

2. So as to surround or be near.

   Everybody please gather around.

   There isn't another house for miles around.

3. Nearly; approximately; about.

4. From place to place.
5. From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.

   (see bring around, come around)

   (see bring around, come around)

6. (with turn, spin, etc.) So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.

7. Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.

8. Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.

   sit around, mess around, loaf around

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• round
• about

Middle English

Alternative forms

• arounde, aroun, o round, aronde

Etymology

a- +? round

Adverb

around

1. around

Preposition

around

1. around

Descendants

• English: around
• Scots: aroond, aroon
• Yola: arent

References

• “ar?und(e, adv. & prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.