circuit

[ sur-kit ]

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. Compare channel ¹( def 12 ).
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.

verb (used with object)

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

verb (used without object)

1. to go or move in a circuit.

circuit

/ 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 circuit the contestants who take part in such a series
9. a motor racing track, usually of irregular shape

verb

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

circuit

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈcircuital, adjective

Other Words From

• circuit·al adjective
• mini·circuit noun
• multi·circuit noun
• multi·circuit·ed adjective
• non·circuit·ed adjective
• sub·circuit noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of circuit¹

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; ambit, exit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of circuit¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

What these brain circuits actually do is calculate an estimated reward, based on your knowledge, expectations, and decisions, versus what actually happens.

From 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.

From Singularity Hub 

Such circuits could be built into small, portable devices, and would carry out complex computational tasks that today only supercomputers can handle.

From MIT Technology Review

SDG&E has increased its capacity to modify grids and move power loads to other circuits, Winn said.

From Voice of San Diego

This means that its effect is temporary, giving the neural circuit breathing room to readjust its activity.

From Singularity Hub 

He went on to be a star on the international circuit all the way until his retirement in 2013.

From The Daily Beast

And in September 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ordered the release of a 21-photo subset.

From The Daily Beast

She made the talk show circuit and wrote a book that garnered her a reported $4,000,000 advance.

From The Daily Beast

Take the case of Herx v. Diocese of Fort Wayne, an employment discrimination suit in the Seventh Circuit.

From The Daily Beast

Justice Sotomayor stopped gay marriages in Kansas before they even start thanks to a split among circuit courts.

From The Daily Beast

This Isthmus has a circuit of fully five hundred leagues and is occupied by the Soriquois tribe.

From Project Gutenberg

There are nine of these courts, one for each circuit into which the United States is divided.

From Project Gutenberg

At a circuit dinner, a counsellor observed to another, "I shall certainly hang your client."

From Project Gutenberg

On a rocky islet in the centre of a fresh water pond two miles in circuit they commenced erecting a fort and store house.

From Project Gutenberg

An attorney traveling with his clerk to the circuit, the latter asked his master what was the chief point in a lawsuit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• course
• district
• lap
• route
• tour