circulate
[ sur-kyuh-leyt ]
/ ˈsɜr kyəˌleɪt /
verb (used without object), cir·cu·lat·ed, cir·cu·lat·ing.
to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point: Blood circulates throughout the body.
to pass from place to place, from person to person, etc.: She circulated among her guests.
to be distributed or sold, especially over a wide area.
Library Science.
(of books and other materials) to be available for borrowing by patrons of a library for a specified period of time.
verb (used with object), cir·cu·lat·ed, cir·cu·lat·ing.
to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute: to circulate a rumor.
Library Science.
to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time.
Origin of circulate
OTHER WORDS FROM circulate
Words nearby circulate
Example sentences from the Web for circulate
British Dictionary definitions for circulate
circulate
/ (ˈsɜːkjʊˌleɪt) /
verb
to send, go, or pass from place to place or person to person
don't circulate the news
to distribute or be distributed over a wide area
to move or cause to move through a circuit, system, etc, returning to the starting point
blood circulates through the body
to move in a circle
the earth circulates around the sun
Derived forms of circulate
circulative, adjective circulator, noun circulatory, adjectiveWord Origin for circulate
C15: from Latin
circulārī to assemble in a circle, from
circulus
circle
Scientific definitions for circulate
circulate
[ sûr′kyə-lāt′ ]
To move in or flow through a circle or a circuit. Blood circulates through the body as it flows out from the heart to the tissues and back again.