circulate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsəːkjʊleɪt/

verb

  • 1move continuously or freely through a closed system or area: [no object]: antibodies circulate in the bloodstream [with object]: the fan circulates hot air around the oven
  • [no object] move around a social function in order to talk to many different people: the couple circulated, chatting to their guests
  • 2pass from place to place or person to person: [no object]: rumours of his arrest circulated [with object]: they were circulating the list to conservation groups
  • [with object] send copies of a letter or leaflet to (a group of people): tutors were circulated with the handout

Derivatives

circulative

adjective

circulator

noun

Origin:

late 15th century (as an alchemical term meaning 'distil something in a closed container, allowing condensed vapour 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