circulate

[sur-kyuh-leyt]

verb (used without object)

circulated, circulating 

1. to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point.

   Blood circulates throughout the body.

2. to pass from place to place, from person to person, etc..

   She circulated among her guests.

3. to be distributed or sold, especially over a wide area.

   Synonyms: promulgate, lay, disperse

4. 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)

circulated, circulating 

1. to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute.

   to circulate a rumor.

2. Library Science.,  to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time.

circulate

/ ˈsɜːkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to send, go, or pass from place to place or person to person

   don't circulate the news

2. to distribute or be distributed over a wide area

3. to move or cause to move through a circuit, system, etc, returning to the starting point

   blood circulates through the body

4. to move in a circle

   the earth circulates around the sun

circulate

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• circulatory adjective
• circulator noun
• circulative adjective
• circulatable adjective
• intercirculate verb
• noncirculating adjective
• noncirculatory adjective
• precirculate verb
• recirculate verb
• uncirculated adjective
• uncirculating adjective
• uncirculative adjective
• well-circulated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circulate¹

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 -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of circulate¹

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

Example Sentences

Strong rumours have already started circulating about Real Madrid's interest in Mora.

From BBC

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault after a video of a confrontation in a Yorkshire park circulated online.

From BBC

Last month, Taylor refused to participate in the daily detainee count, telling guards he wouldn’t leave his cell unless they agreed to leave the cell doors open to let the air circulate.

From Los Angeles Times

Other data centres, like those owned by Ascenty, use a closed-loop system, which circulates water through chillers.

From BBC

BBC Verify identified the additional strikes by analysing dozens of videos provided by a freelancer on the ground and material filmed by eyewitnesses that circulated online.

From BBC

Related Words

• broadcast 
• disperse 
• disseminate 
• distribute 
• publicize 
• publish 
• spread