small circle

noun
1.
a circle on a sphere, the plane of which does not pass through the center of the sphere.
Compare great circle (def 1).
Origin
1870-75
Examples from the web for small circle
  • For example, if the first direction is to draw a circle, draw a small circle in the top left corner.
  • Only his parents and a small circle of old friends ever knew him.
  • Those who despise the current regime now regret their role in bringing a small circle of wealthy, authoritarian clerics to power.
  • It's about a degree off the pole, actually, so it makes a small circle in the sky over the course of a day.
  • When you click on the clean image, a small circle appears over the feature.
  • Dragging the center small circle moves the circle tool, and dragging the outer small circle changes its diameter.
  • The particles of the medium merely vibrate back and forth or move in a small circle.
  • To adjust the slider, hold the mouse down and bring the cursor onto the small circle at either end.
British Dictionary definitions for small circle

small circle

noun
1.
a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere Compare great circle