verb, -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.| 1. | to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point: Blood circulates throughout the body. |
| 2. | to pass from place to place, from person to person, etc.: She circulated among her guests. |
| 3. | to be distributed or sold, esp. over a wide area. |
| 4. | Library Science. (of books and other materials) to be available for borrowing by patrons of a library for a specified period of time. |
| 5. | to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute: to circulate a rumor. |
| 6. | Library Science. to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time. |
| circulate (sûr'kyə-lāt') Pronunciation Key
To move in or flow through a circle or a circuit. Blood circulates through the body as it flows out from the heart to the tissues and back again. |