Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

circulate

/ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.17 in modern English

Syllables: cir-cu-late
IPA: /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To move in circles or through a circuit.

Intransitive verb

verb

To cause (a person or thing) to move in circles or through a circuit.

Transitive verb

verb

To move from person to person, as at a party.

Intransitive verb

verb

To spread or disseminate.

Transitive verb

verb

To become widely known.

Intransitive verb

verb

Of decimals: to repeat.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"In both the 2005 and 2013 papal elections there were whispers circulating that back in 1976 Francis had failed to help the two priests in their hour of need."
"to circulate money or gossip"
"a circulating decimal"

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

Word Breakdown

Root: circulō

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/
British English: /ˈsɜː.kjʊˌleɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

circulates (present, singular) circulating (participle, present) circulated (participle, past) circulated (past)

Derived Forms

circulatable circulation circulative circulator cocirculate intercirculate miscirculate recirculate

Synonyms

put about spread disseminate circularize circularise distribute propagate broadcast diffuse disperse pass around

Questions

How do you pronounce circulate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/.
What does circulate mean?: To move in circles or through a circuit.
Where does circulate come from?: Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

How to pronounce circulate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “circulate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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