small circle

noun

a circle on a sphere, the plane of which does not pass through the center of the sphere. Compare great circle(def 1).

Origin of small circle

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby small circle

small capital, small cardiac vein, small cell carcinoma, small change, small chop, small circle, small claims court, small cog in a large wheel, small craft advisory, small cranberry, small forward

British Dictionary definitions for small circle

small circle

noun

a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere Compare great circle