circulation

noun

cir·cu·la·tion | \ ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən

Definition of circulation

1 : orderly movement through a circuit especially : the movement of blood through the vessels of the body induced by the pumping action of the heart

2 : flow

3a : passage or transmission from person to person or place to place especially : the interchange of currency coins in circulation

b : the extent of dissemination: such as

(1) : the average number of copies of a publication sold over a given period

(2) : the total number of items borrowed from a library

Examples of circulation in a Sentence

He has bad circulation in his legs. The drug improves blood circulation. The attic has poor air circulation. the circulation of ocean waters Let's open the windows to get some circulation in here. This memo is not meant for circulation. The coins have recently entered circulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists have been predicting that cyclones will move more slowly as the world warms and tropical air circulation patterns—which ferry storms from one place to another—weaken. — Katie Langin, Science | AAAS, "Hurricanes are slowing down, wreaking havoc on coastal communities," 6 June 2018 Gun control activists feel that this is a fairly small step to make as so few silencers are in circulation in the 1980s to begin with. — Victoria Rodriguez, Seventeen, "A Timeline of the Second Amendment and Gun Control in the U.S.," 1 May 2019 Interestingly, while people are using cash less frequently, the actual amount of cash in circulation has increased. — Town & Country, "Is This the End of Cash?," 28 Jan. 2019 Cold air also tightens pores, reduces circulation, and reduces sebum production. — Allison Duncan, Allure, "How to Tell If Your Skin Is Dry or Dehydrated, According to Experts," 22 Aug. 2018 Spicier peppers like habañero and jalapeño contain capsaicin, which helps metabolize fat needed for fuel in endurance exercise and boosts blood circulation, Nalder says. — Sara Angle, Outside Online, "Athletes, Stock Up on This Powerhouse Summer Produce," 22 June 2018 Verge Science visited Lorne at his lab in Rochester, New York, and got a firsthand look at some of the new science sign language in circulation. — William Poor, The Verge, "How deaf researchers are reinventing science communication," 11 Dec. 2018 These can cut off your circulation and result in amputation. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "How to Avoid and Treat Rattlesnake Bites," 9 Nov. 2018 Its influence does not appear to be tied to its circulation, which rose early in Mr Dacre’s tenure but has fallen by 41% since 2002. — The Economist, "Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail’s “conductor”, passes the baton," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circulation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 May 2019

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The first known use of circulation was in 1535

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More Definitions for circulation

circulation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of circulation

: the movement of blood through the body that is caused by the pumping action of the heart

: movement of air, water, etc., through the different parts of something

: the act of passing something (such as money, information, etc.) from person to person or place to place : the state of being passed from person to person or place to place

See the full definition for circulation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

circulation

noun

cir·cu·la·tion | \ ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən

Kids Definition of circulation

1 : movement through something A fan will improve the circulation of air in the room.

2 : passage from place to place or person to person coins in circulation

3 : the average number of copies (as of a newspaper) sold in a given period

circulation

noun

cir·cu·la·tion | \ ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən

Medical Definition of circulation

: the movement of blood through the vessels of the body that is induced by the pumping action of the heart and serves to distribute nutrients and oxygen to and remove waste products from all parts of the body — see pulmonary circulation, systemic circulation