circuit

noun

1. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution

   “After 27 days the moon has made one circuit among the stars, moving from west to east. But in those 27 days the sun has likewise moved eastwardly, about 27 degrees. The moon, then, has to make one circuit and a little more in order to be again in the line joining the earth and sun, in order to be again 'new.'”

   “In the future, he says, a focus on the hate circuit may open new avenues for treatment – including new drugs and psychotherapies – that target this and other specific circuits in the brain.”

2. The circumference of, or distance around, any space; the measure of a line around an area.

   “Circuit of the wall from the east to the West”

3. That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown.

   “And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage Until the golden circuit on my head, Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams, Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.”

4. The space enclosed within a circle, or within limits.

   “"Fondling," she saith, "since I have hemm'd thee here Within the circuit of this ivory pale, I'll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer: Feed where thou wilt, on mountain, or in dale; Graze on my lips; and if those hills be dry, Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie."”

   “A circuit wide enclosed with goodliest trees.”

5. Enclosed path of an electric current, usually designed for a certain function.

   “The parts within these series and parallel sub-circuits may be arranged in different ways without changing what the circuit does. Large circuits are made of combinations of smaller series and parallel circuits.”

6. A regular or appointed trip from place to place as part of one's job

   “Having cut his teeth on London's take-no-prisoners comedy circuit he can handle hecklers too, sometimes with musical accompaniment; recent shows see him armed with a veritable chamber orchestra's worth of instruments, all of which he plays.”

7. The jurisdiction of certain judges within a state or country, whether itinerant or not.
8. (abbreviation, alt-of)Abbreviation of circuit court.
9. The basic grouping of local Methodist churches.
10. A set of theaters among which the same acts circulate; especially common in the heyday of vaudeville.
11. A track on which a race is held; a racetrack

    “Interlagos is the 24th track Hamilton has won at in F1, which is more than any other driver in history. The only circuit on the current calendar that Hamilton hasn’t won at is Baku, which only joined the schedule this year.”

12. (obsolete)circumlocution

    “circuite of words.”

13. A thought that unconsciously goes round and round in a person's mind and controls that person.
14. A closed trail.
15. A chain of cinemas/movie theaters.

    “Mike Patrick commented on a theater chain he was considering buying and converting to 99 ¢ theaters with multiplex screens: I'm looking at a circuit of theaters in a major metropolitan area. Now the owner hasn't told me that it is for sale yet.”

    “It again featured Edgar Simmons (the architect and chairman), John Ray (the builder), L. E. Agar (managing director) and J. G. Wainwright (head of a separate circuit of cinemas).”

16. A single completion of all of the exercises in a circuit training regime.
17. (historical)Various administrative divisions of imperial and early Republican China, including:
18. (historical)Various administrative divisions of imperial and early Republican China, including:
19. (historical)Various administrative divisions of imperial and early Republican China, including:

verb

1. (intransitive, obsolete)To move in a circle; to go round; to circulate.

   “perpetual Motion keep, / Quick circuiting ; nor dare they close their Eyes”

2. (obsolete, transitive)To travel around.

   “Having circuited the air.”