circuit

[ sur-kit ]

noun

1. an act or instance of going or moving around.
2. a circular journey or one beginning and ending at the same place; a round.

   Synonyms: orbit, revolution, tour

3. a roundabout journey or course.
4. a periodical journey from place to place, to perform certain duties, as by judges to hold court, ministers to preach, or salespeople covering a route.
5. the persons making such a journey.
6. the route followed, places visited, or district covered by such a journey.
7. the line going around or bounding any area or object; the distance about an area or object.

   Synonyms: compass, boundary, periphery, perimeter, circumference

8. the space within a bounding line; district:

   the circuit of the valley.

   Synonyms: field, range, area, compass, region

9. Electricity.
   1. Also called electric circuit. the complete path of an electric current, including the generating apparatus, intervening resistors, or capacitors.
   2. any well-defined segment of a complete circuit.
10. Telecommunications. a means of transmitting communication signals or messages, usually comprising two channels for interactive communication. Compare channel ¹( def 12 ).
11. a number of theaters, nightclubs, etc., controlled by the same owner or manager or visited in turn by the same entertainers or acting companies.

    Synonyms: chain

12. a league or association:

    He used to play baseball for the Texas circuit.

verb (used with object)

1. to go or move around; make the circuit of.

verb (used without object)

1. to go or move in a circuit.

circuit

/ ˈsɜːkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a complete route or course, esp one that is curved or circular or that lies around an object
   2. the area enclosed within such a route
2. the act of following such a route

   we made three circuits of the course

3. 1. a complete path through which an electric current can flow
   2. ( as modifier )

      a circuit diagram

4. 1. a periodical journey around an area, as made by judges, salesmen, etc
   2. the route traversed or places visited on such a journey
   3. the persons making such a journey
5. an administrative division of the Methodist Church comprising a number of neighbouring churches
6. English law one of six areas into which England is divided for the administration of justice
7. a number of theatres, cinemas, etc, under one management or in which the same film is shown or in which a company of performers plays in turn
8. sport
   1. a series of tournaments in which the same players regularly take part

      the international tennis circuit

   2. the contestants who take part in such a series
9. a motor racing track, usually of irregular shape

verb

1. to make or travel in a circuit around (something)

circuit

/ sûr′kĭt /

1. A closed path through which an electric current flows or may flow.
2. ◆ Circuits in which a power source is connected to two or more components (such as light bulbs, or logic gates in a computer circuit), one after the other, are called series circuits. If the circuit is broken, none of the components receives a current. Circuits in which a power source is directly connected to two or more components are called parallel circuits. If a break occurs in the circuit, only the component along whose path the break occurs stops receiving a current.
3. A system of electrically connected parts or devices.

Derived Forms

• ˈcircuital, adjective

Other Words From

• circuit·al adjective
• mini·circuit noun
• multi·circuit noun
• multi·circuit·ed adjective
• non·circuit·ed adjective
• sub·circuit noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of circuit¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin circuitus, variant of circumitus circular motion, cycle, equivalent to circu ( m ) i-, variant stem of circu ( m ) īre to go round, circle ( circum- circum- + īre to go) + -tus suffix of v. action; ambit, exit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of circuit¹

C14: from Latin circuitus a going around, from circumīre, from circum around + īre to go

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. ride circuit, Law. (of a judge) to travel a judicial county or district in order to conduct judicial proceedings.

Example Sentences

Applying an electrical charge makes the mixture complete the circuit by streaming out of the needle on to the metal plate.

From Science Daily

If performances in county cricket mean less than they used to, what is the point of a player slogging around the circuit?

From BBC

In addition to increasing the release of insulin and slowing stomach emptying, GLP-1 analogs are thought to impact the brain’s reward circuits, leading to fewer cravings and decreased use.

From Salon

"This leftist judge would have been voted down and the seat on the important 11th circuit would have been filled by Donald Trump next year had Republicans showed up," he tweeted.

From Salon

Neuroscientists at the Salk Institute have now, for the first time, identified a specific brain circuit that regulates breathing voluntarily.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• course
• district
• lap
• route
• tour