What does the word round mean in music?

A round, also called an infinite canon or perpetual canon, is a musical composition in which a simple melody is sung in canon by two or more voices without a clear end. The voices enter one by one at regular intervals, with each voice repeating the melody from the beginning while the previous voices continue to sing their parts. This process results in a continuous flow of music that can be repeated indefinitely.

Rounds are popular for their simplicity and sing-along nature. They are often used as educational tools for teaching harmony and counterpoint. Some well-known rounds include "Three Blind Mice," "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and "Frère Jacques." Rounds can be performed by any combination of voices or instruments and are found in a variety of musical genres, from folk music to classical compositions.