circuit

[ sur-kit ]

/ ˈsɜr kɪt /

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See synonyms for: circuit / circuited / circuiting on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act or instance of going or moving around.

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

a roundabout journey or course.

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.

the persons making such a journey.

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

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

the space within a bounding line; district: the circuit of the valley.

Electricity.

Also called electric circuit. the complete path of an electric current, including the generating apparatus, intervening resistors, or capacitors.
any well-defined segment of a complete circuit.

Telecommunications. a means of transmitting communication signals or messages, usually comprising two channels for interactive communication.Compare channel¹ (def. 12).

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

a league or association: He used to play baseball for the Texas circuit.

verb (used with object)

to go or move around; make the circuit of.

verb (used without object)

to go or move in a circuit.

SYNONYMS FOR circuit

2 tour, revolution, orbit.

7 circumference, perimeter, periphery, boundary, compass.

8 region, compass, area, range, field.

11 chain.

See synonyms for circuit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for circuit

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

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, exit¹

OTHER WORDS FROM circuit

cir·cuit·al, adjectivemin·i·cir·cuit, nounmul·ti·cir·cuit, nounmul·ti·cir·cuit·ed, adjective

non·cir·cuit·ed, adjectivesub·cir·cuit, noun

Words nearby circuit

circle time, Circleville, circlip, Circlorama, circs, circuit, circuit analyzer, circuit binding, circuit board, circuit breaker, circuit court

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for circuit

What these brain circuits actually do is calculate an estimated reward, based on your knowledge, expectations, and decisions, versus what actually happens.
This Is How Your Brain Responds to Social Influence|Shelly Fan|August 25, 2020|Singularity Hub
In a recent study, we reported how we managed to extract copper from discarded computer circuit boards using this method and recycle it into high-quality foil.
We’re Using Microbes to Clean Up Toxic Electronic Waste. Here’s How|Sebastien Farnaud|August 20, 2020|Singularity Hub
Such circuits could be built into small, portable devices, and would carry out complex computational tasks that today only supercomputers can handle.
Brain on a chip|Katie McLean|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
SDG&E has increased its capacity to modify grids and move power loads to other circuits, Winn said.
Sacramento Report: Uber vs. California|Voice of San Diego|August 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego

This means that its effect is temporary, giving the neural circuit breathing room to readjust its activity.
Scientists Used Dopamine to Seamlessly Merge Artificial and Biological Neurons|Shelly Fan|June 23, 2020|Singularity Hub
He went on to be a star on the international circuit all the way until his retirement in 2013.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in September 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ordered the release of a 21-photo subset.
The Detainee Abuse Photos Obama Didn’t Want You To See|Noah Shachtman, Tim Mak|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She made the talk show circuit and wrote a book that garnered her a reported $4,000,000 advance.
Amanda Knox: A Mother’s Obsession|Nina Darnton|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take the case of Herx v. Diocese of Fort Wayne, an employment discrimination suit in the Seventh Circuit.
Catholic Church: Religious Freedom Trumps Civil Rights|Jay Michaelson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Justice Sotomayor stopped gay marriages in Kansas before they even start thanks to a split among circuit courts.
Gay Marriage Chaos Begins|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This Isthmus has a circuit of fully five hundred leagues and is occupied by the Soriquois tribe.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
There are nine of these courts, one for each circuit into which the United States is divided.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
At a circuit dinner, a counsellor observed to another, "I shall certainly hang your client."
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
On a rocky islet in the centre of a fresh water pond two miles in circuit they commenced erecting a fort and store house.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
An attorney traveling with his clerk to the circuit, the latter asked his master what was the chief point in a lawsuit.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for circuit

circuit

/ (ˈsɜːkɪt) /

noun

a complete route or course, esp one that is curved or circular or that lies around an object
the area enclosed within such a route

the act of following such a routewe made three circuits of the course

a complete path through which an electric current can flow
(as modifier)a circuit diagram

a periodical journey around an area, as made by judges, salesmen, etc
the route traversed or places visited on such a journey
the persons making such a journey

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

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

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

sport

a series of tournaments in which the same players regularly take partthe international tennis circuit
the circuit the contestants who take part in such a series

mainly British a motor racing track, usually of irregular shape

verb

to make or travel in a circuit around (something)

Derived forms of circuit

circuital, adjective

Word Origin for circuit

C14: from Latin circuitus a going around, from circumīre, from circum around + īre to go

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for circuit

circuit

[ sûr′kĭt ]

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

A system of electrically connected parts or devices.

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