circulate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb become widely known and passed on
    spread; go around.
    • the rumor spread
    • the story went around in the office
  2. verb cause to become widely known
    circularise; disseminate; distribute; broadcast; spread; circularize; disperse; pass around; propagate; diffuse.
    • spread information
    • circulate a rumor
    • broadcast the news
  3. verb cause be distributed
    distribute; pass on; pass around.
    • This letter is being circulated among the faculty
  4. verb move through a space, circuit or system, returning to the starting point
    • Blood circulates in my veins
    • The air here does not circulate
  5. verb move in circles
    circle.
  6. verb cause to move in a circuit or system
    • The fan circulates the air in the room
  7. verb move around freely
    • She circulates among royalty
  8. verb cause to move around
    mobilize; mobilise.
    • circulate a rumor

WordNet

Cir"cu*late intransitive verb
Etymology
L. circulatus, p. p. of circulare, v. t., to surround, make round, circulari, v. i., to gather into a circle. See Circle.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Ciorculated; present participle & verbal noun Circulating
Definitions
  1. To move in a circle or circuitously; to move round and return to the same point; as, the blood circulates in the body. Boyle.
  2. To pass from place to place, from person to person, or from hand to hand; to be diffused; as, money circulates; a story circulates.
Cir"cu*late transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to pass from place to place, or from person to person; to spread; as, to circulate a report; to circulate bills of credit. Syn. -- To spread; diffuse; propagate; disseminate.

Webster 1913