circulate

[sur-kyuh-leyt] /ˈsɜr kyəˌleɪt/
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.
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.
5.
to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute:
to circulate a rumor.
6.
Library Science. to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time.
Origin
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 -ate1
Related forms
circulatable, adjective
circulative
[sur-kyuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv] /ˈsɜr kyəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv/ (Show IPA), adjective
circulatory
[sur-kyuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈsɜr kyə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ (Show IPA), adjective
intercirculate, verb, intercirculated, intercirculating.
noncirculating, adjective
noncirculatory, adjective
precirculate, verb, precirculated, precirculating.
recirculate, verb, recirculated, recirculating.
uncirculated, adjective
uncirculating, adjective
uncirculative, adjective
well-circulated, adjective
Synonyms
3. disperse, spread, promulgate.
Examples from the web for circulate
  • The rating will give you some idea of the unit's ability to circulate air.
  • Each year throngs of scientists circulate through the world's coral reefs, leaving reams of data in their wake.
  • These proteins continue to circulate in the bloodstream and can recognize new invaders that resemble past pathogens.
  • Nothing is new under the sun, but sometimes the word is slow to circulate.
  • At sea, the particles circulate for about one million years before coming to sedimentary rest.
  • It's an atrium that sweeps irregularly up through the middle of the building, where it will help both air and people circulate.
  • To this end, zillions of cells called lymphocytes circulate around the body, spoiling for a fight.
  • Every few weeks, turn the pile with a rake or pitchfork to circulate the air and moisture.
  • To recover the heat, the project's operators would have needed to fracture the rock and circulate water through it.
  • Brains that circulate between native and adopted countries.
British Dictionary definitions for circulate

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
Derived Forms
circulative, adjective
circulator, noun
circulatory, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Latin circulārī to assemble in a circle, from circuluscircle
Word Origin and History for circulate
v.

1540s (late 15c. as a past participle adjective), as a chemical term for alternating vaporization and condensation, from Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare "to form a circle," from circulus (see circle (n.)). Meaning "to move around, revolve" is from 1670s; of blood, from 1650s; of persons, "to mingle in a social gathering," from 1863. Sense of "to pass about freely" is from 1660s; of newspapers from 1885. Related: Circulated; circulating.

circulate in Science
circulate
  (sûr'kyə-lāt')   
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.