circuit

American  

[sur-kit] / ˈsɜr kɪt /

noun

1. an act or instance of going or moving around.

2. a circular journey or one beginning and ending at the same place; a round.

   Synonyms:

   orbit, revolution, tour

3. a roundabout journey or course.

4. a periodical journey from place to place, to perform certain duties, as by judges to hold court, ministers to preach, or salespeople covering a route.

5. the persons making such a journey.

6. the route followed, places visited, or district covered by such a journey.

7. the line going around or bounding any area or object; the distance about an area or object.

   Synonyms:

   compass, boundary, periphery, perimeter, circumference

8. the space within a bounding line; district.

   the circuit of the valley.

   Synonyms:

   field, range, area, compass, region

9. Electricity.

   1. Also called electric circuit.  the complete path of an electric current, including the generating apparatus, intervening resistors, or capacitors.

   2. any well-defined segment of a complete circuit.

10. Telecommunications. a means of transmitting communication signals or messages, usually comprising two channels for interactive communication.

11. a number of theaters, nightclubs, etc., controlled by the same owner or manager or visited in turn by the same entertainers or acting companies.

    Synonyms:

    chain

12. a league or association.

    He used to play baseball for the Texas circuit.

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verb (used with object)

circuits, present (3rd person singular) circuited, past participle, past circuiting present participle

1. to go or move around; make the circuit of.

verb (used without object)

circuits, present (3rd person singular) circuited, past participle, past circuiting present participle

1. to go or move in a circuit.

idioms

1. ride circuit, (of a judge) to travel a judicial county or district in order to conduct judicial proceedings.

circuit British  

/ ˈsɜːkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a complete route or course, esp one that is curved or circular or that lies around an object

   2. the area enclosed within such a route

2. the act of following such a route

   we made three circuits of the course

3. 1. a complete path through which an electric current can flow

   2. ( as modifier )

      a circuit diagram

4. 1. a periodical journey around an area, as made by judges, salesmen, etc

   2. the route traversed or places visited on such a journey

   3. the persons making such a journey

5. an administrative division of the Methodist Church comprising a number of neighbouring churches

6. English law one of six areas into which England is divided for the administration of justice

7. a number of theatres, cinemas, etc, under one management or in which the same film is shown or in which a company of performers plays in turn

8. sport

   1. a series of tournaments in which the same players regularly take part

      the international tennis circuit

   2. the contestants who take part in such a series

9. a motor racing track, usually of irregular shape

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verb

1. to make or travel in a circuit around (something)

circuit Scientific  

/ sûr′kĭt /

1. A closed path through which an electric current flows or may flow.

2. ◆ Circuits in which a power source is connected to two or more components (such as light bulbs, or logic gates in a computer circuit), one after the other, are called series circuits. If the circuit is broken, none of the components receives a current. Circuits in which a power source is directly connected to two or more components are called parallel circuits. If a break occurs in the circuit, only the component along whose path the break occurs stops receiving a current.

3. A system of electrically connected parts or devices.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multicircuit
  noun
• noncircuited
  adjective
• multicircuited
  adjective
• subcircuit
  noun
• minicircuit
  noun
• circuital
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has circuited
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have circuited
  perfect
• have been circuiting
  perfect progressive
• has been circuiting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is circuiting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• circuiting
  participle
• circuits
  singular 3rd person
• are circuiting
  progressive
• am circuiting
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had circuited
  perfect
• were circuiting
  progressive plural
• circuited
  simple
• circuited
  participle
• had been circuiting
  perfect progressive
• was circuiting
  progressive singular

Future

• will circuit
  simple
• will have circuited
  perfect
• will have been circuiting
  perfect progressive
• will be circuiting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of circuit

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin circuitus, variant of circumitus circular motion, cycle, equivalent to circu ( m ) i-, variant stem of circu ( m ) īre to go round, circle ( circum- circum- + īre to go) + -tus suffix of v. action; cf. ambit, exit ¹

Explanation

A circuit is a circular path. It could be the circuit of an electric current or the route of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If you’re promoting your new book, you’ll be making the talk show circuit. What all these circuits have in common the idea of tracing a circle. A circuit preacher doesn't stay at one church, but instead travels from church to church, following a particular route. Originally US judges traveled from town to town, too, and today’s division of the country into twelve judicial circuits is a holdover from that era — "the Third Circuit," for instance, includes Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Example Sentences

Williams also holds the keys to a two-bedroom apartment in Paris, which she purchased in 2007 during her tennis circuit.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Along the way, I learned a few things: To take full advantage of plug-in solar, it has to be on its own dedicated circuit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Despite prior rumors, Williams’ sister Venus seemed just as surprised as everyone else that Serena was returning to the competitive circuit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Although the incident broke the car's front-wind endplate, Alonso kept it largely under control and out of the barriers as it slid wildly up the kerb on the outside of the circuit.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

He made a circuit of the room, peeking into corners and behind the furniture.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• course
• district
• lap
• route
• tour