circumnavigation
circumnavigation — noun
- circumnavigationsingular
- circumnavigationsplural
1. a complete trip around something in a boat or ship, most often around the whole
a complete trip around something in a boat or ship, most often around the whole world
Magellan's crew completed the first circumnavigation of the globe by ship.
circumnavigation of [place] by ship
Tariq dreamed of a slow circumnavigation of Africa in his small sailing boat.
The old sailor finished her circumnavigation of the island after three stormy weeks.
Dewi spent two days on a circumnavigation of the lake in a small wooden boat.
Jiwoo planned a circumnavigation of the whole country by boat for next summer.
- voyage
a long journey by sea, but not necessarily a full loop
- round-the-world trip
everyday phrase; stresses the whole-world route rather than the sailing
文法句型
circumnavigation of + noun
用法筆記
Most often takes 'of' + a place, and very commonly 'of the globe' or 'of the world'; the trip is made by boat or ship.
常見錯誤
2. a complete trip around something using any kind of transport, for example a plan
a complete trip around something using any kind of transport, for example a plane
The pilot's circumnavigation of the world took just three days by plane.
circumnavigation of the world by plane
Christopher booked a circumnavigation of Australia using trains, buses, and ferries.
circumnavigation by mixed transport
A full circumnavigation of the moon is now possible for paying space tourists.
Beatrix completed her circumnavigation of the lake region by bicycle last spring.
Sofie's circumnavigation of the city by car avoided every busy market street.
- circuit
a single trip all the way around, but often shorter and not global
- round-the-world trip
informal; usually by air or a mix of transport
文法句型
circumnavigation of + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense covers a full loop by any means — plane, car, bicycle, or train — not only by boat.
3. a long and roundabout way of talking about a subject so that you do not have to
a long and roundabout way of talking about a subject so that you do not have to mention the real issue
Sade's long circumnavigation of the topic showed she did not want to apologise.
circumnavigation of the topic = avoiding it
The manager's circumnavigation of the budget question annoyed everyone in the meeting.
Camila used a careful circumnavigation of the subject to delay the bad news.
Brian's endless circumnavigation of the real problem left his students more confused.
The lawyer's slow circumnavigation of the facts hid the truth from the jury.
- evasion
avoiding a topic, but without the idea of long-winded talk
- digression
wandering off the subject, not always to avoid something
- directness
saying the main point plainly and at once
文法句型
circumnavigation of + noun
用法筆記
Figurative and usually disapproving; the object is normally a topic, question, or problem that the speaker is deliberately avoiding.