English Explanatory Dictionary

circulate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

to move in circles or through a circuit
to cause (a person or thing) to move in circles or through a circuit
to move from person to person, as at a party
to spread or disseminate
to become widely known
Of decimals: to repeat.

Pronunciation

sər'kyo͝o-lāt /ˈsɜː.kjʊˌleɪt/ /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/ En-us-circulate.ogg

Word forms

circulate circulates circulating circulated

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

Synonyms

Derived words

circulatable circulation circulative circulator cocirculate intercirculate miscirculate recirculate

Translations

Finnish: kierittää Finnish: pyörittää Hebrew: סובב

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