To sail or travel all the way around something, especially the Earth or a large body of water.
From Latin circum- (around) + navigare (to sail). Combined in the 16th century to describe the new feat of sailing completely around Earth.
Ferdinand Magellan never actually completed the first circumnavigation—he died in the Philippines—but his crew finished the journey in 1522, proving you could sail around the whole world. Today, circumnavigation takes much less time, but it still represents one of humanity's greatest achievements!
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