circuit
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (7)circuits
- an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flowSynonyms: electrical circuitelectric circuitType of electrical deviceKinds bridge, pulse timing circuit, bridged-T, closed circuit, flip-flop, computer circuit, T-network, open circuit, series circuit, feedback circuit +8 morePart of electronic equipmentParts tube, resistor, capacitor, shunt, short circuit, choke, relay
- a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area“they took an extended tour of Europe”“we took a quick circuit of the park”“a ten-day coach circuit of the island”Synonyms: tourType of journey, journeyingKinds package tour, grand tour, itineration, whistle-stop tour, walkabout, pub crawl
- an established itinerary of venues or events that a particular group of people travel to“she's a familiar name on the club circuit”“on the lecture circuit”“the judge makes a circuit of the courts in his district”“the international tennis circuit”Type of path, route
- the boundary line encompassing an area or object“he had walked the full circumference of his land”“a danger to all races over the whole circumference of the globe”Synonyms: circumferenceType of boundary line, border
- (law) a judicial division of a state or the United States (so-called because originally judges traveled and held court in different locations); one of the twelve groups of states in the United States that is covered by a particular circuit court of appealsType of group, grouping
- a racetrack for automobile racesSynonyms: racing circuitType of racetrack, racecourse
- movement once around a course“he drove an extra lap just for insurance”Synonyms: lapcircle
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun enclosed path of electric current
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F. circuit, fr. L. circuitus, fr. circuire or circumire to go around; circum around + ire to go.
1. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution; as, the periodical circuit of the earth round the sun. Henry Watts
2. The circumference of, or distance round, any space; the measure of a line round an area.
The circuit or compass of Ireland is 1,800 miles.— J. Stow.
3. That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown.
The golden circuit on my head.— William Shakespeare
4. The space inclosed within a circle, or within limits.
A circuit wide inclosed with goodliest trees.— John Milton
5. A regular or appointed journeying from place to place in the exercise of one's calling, as of a judge, or a preacher.
6. (a) Law A certain division of a state or country, established by law for a judge or judges to visit, for the administration of justice. Bouvier, John. (b) Methodist Church A district in which an itinerant preacher labors.
7. Circumlocution. obsolete “Thou hast used no circuit of words.” or Hulett, Richard. Huloet
Circuit court Law, a court which sits successively in different places in its circuit (see Circuit, 6). In the United States, the federal circuit courts are commonly presided over by a judge of the supreme court, or a special circuit judge, together with the judge of the district court. They have jurisdiction within statutory limits, both in law and equity, in matters of federal cognizance. Some of the individual States also have circuit courts, which have general statutory jurisdiction of the same class, in matters of State cognizance. — Circuit of action or Circuity of action Law, a longer course of proceedings than is necessary to attain the object in view. — To make a circuit, to go around; to go a roundabout way. — Voltaic circle or Galvanic circle or Voltaic circuit or Galvanic circuit, a continous electrical communication between the two poles of a battery; an arrangement of voltaic elements or couples with proper conductors, by which a continuous current of electricity is established.
To move in a circle; to go round; to circulate. obsolete John Philips
To travel around. obsolete “Having circuited the air.” Thomas Warton
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
1.<communications> A communications path in a circuit switching network.
2.<electronics> A complete path through which an electric current can flow.
The term is used loosely for any device or subsystem using electrical or electronic components. E.g. "That lightning bolt fried the circuits in my GPS receiver". An integrated circuit (IC) contains components built on a Silicon die.
(2002-07-15)