What is "round of beef"

Round \Round\ (round), n.

1. Anything round, as a circle, a globe, a ring. ``The golden round'' [the crown].
   --Shak.

   In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled.
   --Milton.

2. A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution; as, the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures.

3. Hence: A course ending where it began; a circuit; a beat; especially, one freguently or regulary traversed; also, the act of traversing a circuit; as, a watchman's round; the rounds of the postman.

4. A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.

   the trivial round, the common task.
   --Keble.

5. Hence: (Mining, Tunneling) One work cycle, consisting of drilling blast holes, loading them with explosive, blasting, mucking out, and, if necessary, installing temporary support.

   . . . Inco is still much more advanced than other mining companies. He says that the LKAB mine in Sweden is the closest rival. He predicts that, by 2008, Inco can reach a new productivity plateau, doubling the current mining productivity from 3,350 tonnes to 6,350 tonnes per person per year. Another aim is to triple the mine cycle rate (the time to drill, blast and muck a round) from one cycle to three complete cycles per 24 hours.
   --http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/issues/apr00/page10.asp

6. A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.

   Women to cards may be compared: we play A round or two; which used, we throw away.
   --Granville.

   The feast was served; the bowl was crowned; To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round.
   --Prior.

7. Hence: A complete set of plays in a game or contest covering a standard number of individual plays or parts; as, a round of golf; a round of tennis.

8. Hence: One set of games in a tournament.

9. The time during which prize fighters or boxers are in actual contest without an intermission, as prescribed by their rules; a bout.

10. A circular dance.

    Come, knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastic round.
    --Milton.

11. That which goes round a whole circle or company; as, a round of applause.

12. Rotation, as in office; succession.
    --Holyday.

13. The step of a ladder; a rundle or rung; also, a crosspiece which joins and braces the legs of a chair.

    All the rounds like Jacob's ladder rise.
    --Dryden.

14. (Mil.)

    1. A walk performed by a guard or an officer round the rampart of a garrison, or among sentinels, to see that the sentinels are faithful and all things safe; also, the guard or officer, with his attendants, who performs this duty; -- usually in the plural.

    2. A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once.

    3. One piece of ammunition for a firearm, used by discharging one piece at a time; as, each soldier carried a hundred rounds of ammunition.

15. (Mus.) A short vocal piece, resembling a catch in which three or four voices follow each other round in a species of canon in the unison.

16. A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.

17. A vessel filled, as for drinking; as, to drink a round od ale together. [R.]

18. An assembly; a group; a circle; as, a round of politicians.
    --Addison.

19. (Naut.) See Roundtop.

20. Same as Round of beef, below. Gentlemen of the round.

    1. Gentlemen soldiers of low rank who made the rounds. See 10 (a), above.

    2. Disbanded soldiers who lived by begging. [Obs.]

       Worm-eaten gentlemen of the round, such as have vowed to sit on the skirts of the city, let your provost and his half dozen of halberdiers do what they can.
       --B. Jonson.

       Round of beef, the part of the thigh below the aitchbone, or between the rump and the leg. See Illust. of beef.

       Round steak, a beefsteak cut from the round.

       Sculpture in the round, sculpture giving the full form, as of man; statuary, distinguished from relief.