Circumnavigate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˌsə.kəmˈnæv.ɪ.ɡeɪt/

Definitions

1. To journey completely around an object, often a globe or ocean, while also implying skill in navigation and exploration methods to achieve this feat
2. To successfully travel around an entire entity, which usually refers to a large landmass or water body, demonstrating navigational prowess in the process
3. To travel all the way around a particular object or body, typically implying a mastery of navigation and related skills necessary for such an endeavor

Etymology: Sailors have been doing this for centuries, but the word itself is a Latin construction built from three parts: "circum," meaning "about" or "around," "nāvis," meaning "ship," and "agō," meaning "do" or "drive." Put together, the Latin verb "circumnāvigō" meant to sail around something, and English borrowed it in its past participle form, "circumnāvigātus." The word's meaning has stayed remarkably close to its physical origin. It first described ships moving around a landmass or island, and later the sense stretched to the globe itself, as voyages began to circle the whole world. Because a ship had to be steered carefully to complete such a loop, the word came to carry an implication of skilled navigation, not just movement. The English word is therefore a fairly transparent compound: "circum-" attached to "navigate," with "navigate" itself resting on the same Latin root for "ship." Anyone who has seen "navy" or "naval" is looking at a close relative.

Synonyms: sail around, travel around, navigate, circle, loop

Antonyms: stay, remain, stay put, settle, stand still