circulate

views updated May 21 2018

cir·cu·late / ˈsərkyəˌlāt/ • v. 1. move or cause to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area: [intr.] antibodies circulate in the bloodstream | [tr.] the fan circulates hot air around the oven. ∎  [intr.] move around a social function in order to talk to many different people.2. pass or cause to pass from place to place or person to person: [intr.] rumors of his arrest circulated | [tr.] they were circulating the list to conservation groups. DERIVATIVES: cir·cu·la·tive / -ˌlātiv; -lətiv/ adj.cir·cu·la·tor / -ˌlātər/ n.

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