CS Knowledge Base

• all-around (US, Canada)

From all +‎ round, initially “everywhere” (1728), “versatile” from 1867.^[1]

• enPR: äl′-round′
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑlˌɹaʊnd/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

all-round

1. Having a wide scope, comprehensive.

   Synonym: comprehensive

   • 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume I: The Founders, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: powstanie (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 159:

     Communism requires conditions in which men are not restricted to a particular type of work, but can take part successively in all types and thus achieve all-round development.

2. Having many skills, versatile. [from 1867]

   Synonyms: (US, Canada) all-around, well-rounded, versatile

   • 2018 July 15, Jonathan Jurejko, “Novak Djokovic wins fourth Wimbledon by beating Kevin Anderson”, in BBC Sport‎^[1], archived from the original on 29 June 2026:

     While reaching last year's US Open final showed he possesses an all-round game, Anderson's biggest weapon remains his serve - which he lost in the opening game against Djokovic with a double fault on break point.

3. All around, in every surrounding place.
   • 1955 January, R. S. McNaught, “From the Severn to the Mersey by Great Western”, in Railway Magazine, page 21:

     Then we pass through Bebington station, and, entering a cutting, become aware of the usual signs of approach to an urban area—buildings closing in, an all-round increase in smokiness, and the application of brakes.

• all-round education
• all-rounder