round face

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A face whose width and length look about the same, with soft, curved cheeks and a jaw that is not angular.

   Grammar: Countable: say a round face or two round faces; use it with have, or after be.

   Patterns

   • have a round face
   • a round face shape
   • with a round face

   My little brother has a round face and very soft cheeks.

   In the photo her round face makes her look younger than she is.

   People with a round face often look good with longer hair.

2. 2nouncountable

   A face that looks plump or full, especially because of body weight or youth.

   Grammar: Countable and usually used with have or a describing verb such as look; it often appears after get when weight changes.

   Patterns

   • get a round face
   • a round, chubby face
   • look round-faced

   After a few months of good meals the child got a round face again.

   He was a small boy with a round face and bright eyes.

   Her face looked round in the old school picture.

3. 3nouncountabletechnical

   A round shape or disc used as a design on something, for example a clock or a sign.

   Grammar: Technical and countable; it names the circular front part of an object, not a person's face.

   Patterns

   • the round face of a clock
   • a round face on a dial

   The round face of the old clock was cracked but still readable.

   A round face with two hands shows the time on this watch.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a round face

Both sisters have a round face and dark hair.

a round face shape

A round face shape suits short, layered haircuts.

a round, chubby face

The baby had a round, chubby face and no hair yet.

a round face with soft cheeks

He has a round face with soft cheeks and a small nose.

look round

Her face looks round in this low light.

make someone's face look round

That haircut makes her face look round.

Synonyms and how they differ

chubby face

Suggests extra soft flesh and is a little less neutral than round face, so it can sound unkind about an adult.

full face

Describes a face with plenty of flesh; it is often used about older people and sounds slightly more formal than round face.

moon face

A much stronger, often unkind or medical term for a very round, swollen-looking face; avoid it in polite description.

Opposites

Word family

round-faced adjective

Having a round face: a round-faced girl.

face noun

The front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin.

face shape noun

The general form of a face, such as round, oval, or square.

Commonly confused: round face or round-faced?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “round face”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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