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

1425–75 for earlier senses; 1665–75 for current senses; late Middle English < Latin circulātus (past participle of circulārī to gather round one, Medieval Latin circulāre to encircle), equivalent to circul(us) circle + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM 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, adjective

Word Origin for circulate

C15: from Latin circulārī to assemble in a circle, from circulus circle

Scientific definitions for circulate

circulate
[ sûrkyə-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.