Meaning of circulate in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈsərkjəˌleɪt/

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   circulate

   Etymology

   late 15th century (as an alchemical term meaning ‘distill something in a closed container, allowing condensed vapor to return to the original liquid’): from Latin circulat-‘moved in a circular path’, from the verb circulare, from circulus‘small ring’ (see circle). circulate (sense 1) dates from the mid 17th century

   Definitions

   1. become widely known and passed on

   Examples

   • « the rumor spread »
   • « the story went around in the office »
2. 2. cause to become widely known

   Examples

   • « spread information »
   • « circulate a rumor »
   • « broadcast the news »
3. 3. cause to be distributed

   Examples

   • « This letter is circulating among the faculty »
4. 4. move through a space, circuit or system, returning to the starting point

   Examples

   • « Blood circulates in my veins »
   • « The air here does not circulate »
5. 5. move in circles
6. 6. cause to move in a circuit or system

   Examples

   • « The fan circulates the air in the room »
7. 7. move around freely

   Examples

   • « She circulates among royalty »
8. 8. cause to move around

   Examples

   • « circulate a rumor »