WordGarden.iocircuit
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɜːkɪt/
US
- /ˈsɜrkət/
Meanings
Noun
a complete path through which electricity can flow
a route that goes around an area and returns to its starting point
a regular series of places or events visited by people in a shared activity
More meaningsFewer meanings
a legal district served by a particular court or group of judges
a set of exercises or training stations completed in sequence
Beyond the definition
Imagine a tiny race track for electricity! That's essentially what a circuit is—a complete path that allows electrical current to flow. But circuits aren't just about wires. Think of a fitness circuit: you move through a series of exercise stations, eventually returning to where you started to begin the loop again.
A circuit can be physical, like the intricate wiring in your house or the fixed route a delivery driver takes every day. It can also be social, like the "lecture circuit"—a series of venues where a speaker travels to give talks. If something "breaks the circuit," it disrupts the flow and stops the system from functioning.
A circuit is fundamentally a complete and connected path or system that allows something to move or operate in a continuous loop. While most commonly associated with electricity—powering everything from your smartphone to your kitchen appliances—the concept extends far beyond the realm of physics.
In electronics, a circuit consists of components like wires, resistors, and transistors arranged to create a closed pathway for electrical current. If the path is broken, it becomes an "open circuit," and the current stops. A "closed circuit" lets current flow, delivering energy to the parts that do the work.
You’ll also see the word in everyday tech terms: a printed circuit board (PCB) holds pathways that connect parts, an integrated circuit (IC) packs many components into a tiny chip, a circuit breaker protects a system by cutting off current, and a short circuit is an unintended connection that can cause dangerous surges. As an adjective, "closed-circuit" shows up in phrases like closed-circuit television (CCTV), where the video feed is kept within a limited system.
Beyond electronics, "circuit" describes any cyclical route or organized system of travel. A delivery driver might follow a specific "delivery circuit" to reach all their customers in a logical order. In social and professional contexts, a "circuit" refers to a regular round of events or locations; for instance, an athlete might spend the year on the "pro tennis circuit," or a celebrity might be a staple on the "talk show circuit." Even the legal system uses this terminology, where a judge may preside over a "judicial circuit"—a jurisdiction covering multiple courts, sometimes involving travel between them.
Figuratively, "breaking the circuit" means interrupting a repetitive pattern, cycle, or habit. Whether it's electrons moving through a motherboard or a judge traveling a designated route, the word "circuit" always implies connection, completion, and movement within a defined system.
Examples
- 1
Electrical fault
The lights went out because there was a problem with the circuit.
- 2
Electrical systems
One loose wire can stop the whole circuit from working.
- 3
Motor racing
The drivers will test the new circuit before the race on Sunday.
- Domain
in racing, a circuit is a track used for racing
- 4
Visiting a place
We made a quick circuit of the museum before lunch.
- Patternmake a circuit of + place
go all the way around it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Gym training
She started with a short circuit at the gym instead of a long run.
- Domain
in fitness, a circuit is a series of exercises done one after another
- 6
Music career
The band spent most of the summer on the festival circuit.
- Phraseon the festival circuit
regularly performing at many festivals
- 7
Comedy career
He became well known on the comedy circuit before he got his own TV show.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- circuitnounverb
Forms
- circuitspluralnounverb