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circuits - 3 dictionary results

cir⋅cuit

[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.
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.
8. the space within a bounding line; district: the circuit of the valley.
9. Electricity.
a. Also called electric circuit. the complete path of an electric current, including the generating apparatus, intervening resistors, or capacitors.
b. 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.
12. a league or association: He used to play baseball for the Texas circuit.
–verb (used with object)
13. to go or move around; make the circuit of.
–verb (used without object)
14. to go or move in a circuit.
15. ride circuit, Law. (of a judge) to travel a judicial county or district in order to conduct judicial proceedings.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L circuitus, var. of circumitus circular motion, cycle, equiv. to circu(m)i-, var. s. of circu(m)īre to go round, circle (circum- circum- + īre to go) + -tus suffix of v. action; cf. ambit, exit


cir⋅cuit⋅al, adjective


2. tour, revolution, orbit. 7. circumference, perimeter, periphery, boundary, compass. 8. region, compass, area, range, field. 11. chain.
cir·cuit   (sûr'kĭt)   


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n.  
    1. A closed, usually circular line that goes around an object or area.
    2. The region enclosed by such a line. See Synonyms at circumference.
    3. A path or route the complete traversal of which without local change of direction requires returning to the starting point.
    4. The act of following such a path or route.
    5. A journey made on such a path or route.
    6. A closed path followed or capable of being followed by an electric current.
    7. A configuration of electrically or electromagnetically connected components or devices.
    8. A regular or accustomed course from place to place; a round: a salesperson on the Detroit-Minneapolis-Chicago circuit; a popular speaker on the lecture circuit.
    9. The area or district thus covered, especially a territory under the jurisdiction of a judge in which periodic court sessions are held.
    10. An association of theaters in which plays, acts, or films move from theater to theater for presentation.
    11. A group of nightclubs, show halls, or resorts at which entertainers appear in turn.
    12. An association of teams or clubs.
    13. A series of competitions held in different places.
    1. A path or route the complete traversal of which without local change of direction requires returning to the starting point.
    2. The act of following such a path or route.
    3. A journey made on such a path or route.
    4. A closed path followed or capable of being followed by an electric current.
    5. A configuration of electrically or electromagnetically connected components or devices.
    6. A regular or accustomed course from place to place; a round: a salesperson on the Detroit-Minneapolis-Chicago circuit; a popular speaker on the lecture circuit.
    7. The area or district thus covered, especially a territory under the jurisdiction of a judge in which periodic court sessions are held.
    8. An association of theaters in which plays, acts, or films move from theater to theater for presentation.
    9. A group of nightclubs, show halls, or resorts at which entertainers appear in turn.
    10. An association of teams or clubs.
    11. A series of competitions held in different places.
  1. Electronics
    1. A closed path followed or capable of being followed by an electric current.
    2. A configuration of electrically or electromagnetically connected components or devices.
    3. A regular or accustomed course from place to place; a round: a salesperson on the Detroit-Minneapolis-Chicago circuit; a popular speaker on the lecture circuit.
    4. The area or district thus covered, especially a territory under the jurisdiction of a judge in which periodic court sessions are held.
    5. An association of theaters in which plays, acts, or films move from theater to theater for presentation.
    6. A group of nightclubs, show halls, or resorts at which entertainers appear in turn.
    7. An association of teams or clubs.
    8. A series of competitions held in different places.
    1. A regular or accustomed course from place to place; a round: a salesperson on the Detroit-Minneapolis-Chicago circuit; a popular speaker on the lecture circuit.
    2. The area or district thus covered, especially a territory under the jurisdiction of a judge in which periodic court sessions are held.
    3. An association of theaters in which plays, acts, or films move from theater to theater for presentation.
    4. A group of nightclubs, show halls, or resorts at which entertainers appear in turn.
    5. An association of teams or clubs.
    6. A series of competitions held in different places.
    1. An association of theaters in which plays, acts, or films move from theater to theater for presentation.
    2. A group of nightclubs, show halls, or resorts at which entertainers appear in turn.
    3. An association of teams or clubs.
    4. A series of competitions held in different places.
intr. & tr.v.   cir·cuit·ed, cir·cuit·ing, cir·cuits
To make a circuit or circuit of.

[Middle English, circumference, from Old French, from Latin circuitus, a going around, from past participle of circumīre, to go around : circum-, circum- + īre, to go; see ei- in Indo-European roots.]
circuit   (sûr'kĭt)  Pronunciation Key 


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  1. A closed path through which an electric current flows or may flow. ◇ 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.
  2. A system of electrically connected parts or devices.

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