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

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

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

Bird flu has continued to circulate in the wild bird population.

From BBC

Video circulating on social media appears to show two people in balaclavas approaching an entry before a large blaze spreads.

From BBC

The Treasury has not indicated whether the coin will be minted or circulated, and any final decision would likely face court challenges.

From Salon

Reports circulating on social media – difficult to independently verify – claim that more than 11 Hamas members were killed, with some of their bodies dragged through the streets.

From BBC

School and nursery can be like a petri dish with lots of viruses circulating and they may well bring these germs home with them.

From BBC

Related Words

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