Circuit
/ˈsɜːrkɪt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA complete or partial path of electrical current
/ˈsɜːrkɪt/
A closed path or route
The short circuit caused a power outage.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tiny road for electricity to travel on. If the road is complete, that's a circuit. If it's broken, the electricity can't flow!
👶 For kids: It's like a round path for electricity to go around.
More Examples
The race car completed five circuits of the track.
How It's Used
"The electronic circuit was faulty."
"The race car completed the circuit in record time."
A series of connected places or events.
/ˈsɜːrkɪt/
A regularly scheduled series of events
She's been on the lecture circuit for years.
💡 Simply: It's like a tour, but for things like concerts or races! The band goes from city to city, that's a circuit.
👶 For kids: It's like a trip to many places!
More Examples
The judges will travel around the country on the competition circuit.
How It's Used
"The band is on a concert circuit this summer."
Idioms & expressions
short circuit
An unexpected and often disruptive event; to cause a sudden and unexpected failure.
"The negotiations short-circuited when tempers flared."
From Middle French *circuit, from Latin circuitus, from circum ‘around’ + ire ‘to go’.
The word's usage in relation to electronics became prominent in the 20th century with the advancement of electrical technologies.
Memory tip
Think of a circle, a complete loop.
Word Origin
"to go around"