Pronunciation: ' s ə r-ky ə - ˌ l ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -lat · ed ; -lat · ing
Etymology: Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus
Date: 1603
intransitive verb
1 : to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit especially : to follow a course that returns to the starting point <blood circulate s through the body>
2 : to pass from person to person or place to place: as a : to flow without obstruction b : to become well-known or widespread <rumors circulated through the town> c : to go from group to group at a social gathering d : to come into the hands of readers specifically : to become sold or distributed
transitive verb : to cause to circulate
– cir · cu · lat · able \ - ˌ l ā -t ə -b ə l \ adjective
– cir · cu · la · tive \ - ˌ l ā -tiv \ adjective
– cir · cu · la · tor \ - ˌ l ā -t ə r \ noun