What is "at a round rate"

Round \Round\, a. [OF. roond, roont, reond, F. rond, fr. L. rotundus, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Rotund, roundel, Rundlet.]

1. Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a circular shape; orbicular; globular; as, a round ball. ``The big, round tears.''
   --Shak.

   Upon the firm opacous globe Of this round world.
   --Milton.

2. Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as, the barrel of a musket is round.

3. Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or pointed; as, a round arch; round hills. ``Their round haunches gored.''
   --Shak.

4. Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; -- said of numbers.

   Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than the fraction.
   --Arbuthnot.

5. Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as, a round price.

   Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
   --Shak.

   Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon.
   --Tennyson.

6. Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as, a round voice; a round note.

7. (Phonetics) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect] 11.

8. Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not mincing; as, a round answer; a round oath. ``The round assertion.''
   --M. Arnold.

   Sir Toby, I must be round with you.
   --Shak.

9. Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt; finished; polished; -- said of style, or of authors with reference to their style. [Obs.]

   In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant.
   --Peacham.

10. Complete and consistent; fair; just; -- applied to conduct. Round dealing is the honor of man's nature. --Bacon. At a round rate, rapidly. --Dryden. In round numbers, approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, etc.; as, a bin holding 99 or 101 bushels may be said to hold in round numbers 100 bushels. Round bodies (Geom.), the sphere right cone, and right cylinder. Round clam (Zo["o]l.), the quahog. Round dance one which is danced by couples with a whirling or revolving motion, as the waltz, polka, etc. Round game, a game, as of cards, in which each plays on his own account. Round hand, a style of penmanship in which the letters are formed in nearly an upright position, and each separately distinct; -- distinguished from running hand. Round robin. [Perhaps F. round round + ruban ribbon.]

    1. A written petition, memorial, remonstrance, protest, etc., the signatures to which are made in a circle so as not to indicate who signed first. ``No round robins signed by the whole main deck of the Academy or the Porch.''
       --De Quincey.

    2. (Zo["o]l.) The cigar fish.

       Round shot, a solid spherical projectile for ordnance.

       Round Table, the table about which sat King Arthur and his knights. See Knights of the Round Table, under Knight.

       Round tower, one of certain lofty circular stone towers, tapering from the base upward, and usually having a conical cap or roof, which crowns the summit, -- found chiefly in Ireland. They are of great antiquity, and vary in heigh from thirty-five to one hundred and thiry feet.

       Round trot, one in which the horse throws out his feet roundly; a full, brisk, quick trot.
       --Addison.

       Round turn (Naut.), one turn of a rope round a timber, a belaying pin, etc.

       To bring up with a round turn, to stop abruptly. [Colloq.]

       Syn: Circular; spherical; globular; globase; orbicular; orbed; cylindrical; full; plump; rotund.