— circulatable , adj. — circulative /serr"kyeuh lay'tiv, -leuh tiv/ , adj. — circulatory /serr"kyeuh leuh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , adj.
/serr"kyeuh layt'/ , v. , circulated, circulating .
v.i.
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, esp. 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.
v.t.
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.
[ 1425-75 for earlier senses; 1665-75 for current senses; late ME circulatus (ptp. of circulari to gather round one, ML circulare to encircle), equiv. to circul ( us ) CIRCLE + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 3. disperse, spread, promulgate.