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noun C1 Advanced Common

circulation

sur-kyuu-LAY-shuhn

Circulation (noun) means the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body. Example: “Cold hands can be a sign of poor circulation.”

noun
1
The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body.
"Cold hands can be a sign of poor circulation."
2
The spreading or passing of something, such as money, information, or a publication, from person to person.
"The rumour was already in wide circulation by lunchtime."
"The magazine's circulation has dropped since it went online."

How to Use Circulation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe flow of blood in the body, or how widely something (money, news, a publication) is spread.

Common pairings
poor circulation in circulation circulation figures

Word Forms

circulations plural

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Cold hands can be a sign of poor _____.

Etymology

From Latin circulatio, built from circulare ("to circulate") plus the noun suffix "-ion".

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for circulation

See all rhymes for circulation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “circulation” mean?

The word “circulation” means the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body. In plain terms, the flow of blood in the body, or how widely something (money, news, a publication) is spread.

How do you pronounce “circulation”?

“Circulation” is pronounced sur-kyuu-LAY-shuhn (/ˌsɝkjʊˈleɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “circulation” in a sentence?

Here is “circulation” used in a sentence: “Cold hands can be a sign of poor circulation.”

What part of speech is “circulation”?

“Circulation” is a noun.

Where does the word “circulation” come from?

The word “circulation” comes from Latin. From Latin circulatio, built from circulare ("to circulate") plus the noun suffix "-ion".

Is “circulation” a common word?

“Circulation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “circulation” have?

“Circulation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial