# circuit

/ˈsɝkət/ (US) · /sˈɜːkɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/circuit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. electrical path

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the complete path that an electric current flows through.

For teachers: a closed loop or path through which an electric current flows, typically including a power source and various components.

- The lights went out because there was a problem with the electrical circuit.
- The engineer identified a faulty capacitor that was causing the entire integrated circuit to overheat during high-speed processing.

Usage: Often used with 'short' to describe a fault where the current takes an unintended path.

### 2. racing track

noun · CEFR B2

a track used for racing cars, motorcycles, or bicycles.

For teachers: a track or course, typically circular or looping, used for competitive racing.

- The drivers completed fifty laps of the circuit before the rain started.
- The Silverstone circuit is renowned among Formula One drivers for its high-speed corners and challenging technical sections.

### 3. professional route

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a regular journey from place to place to do a job, like a judge or a performer.

For teachers: a regular journey or series of visits made by a professional, such as a judge, preacher, or entertainer, to specific locations within a territory.

- The comedian spent three months on the comedy club circuit across the country.
- Before the establishment of permanent courts, judges traveled a fixed circuit to hear cases in rural districts twice a year.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrases 'judicial circuit' or 'lecture circuit'.

### 4. fitness training

noun · CEFR B2

a series of different exercises that you do one after another.

For teachers: a form of conditioning or resistance training using high-intensity aerobics and several different exercises performed in a sequence.

- Our gym instructor designed a difficult circuit that includes jumping jacks and weights.
- To improve her cardiovascular endurance, she incorporated a twenty-minute circuit into her morning training regime three times a week.

### 5. a complete loop

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the act of moving all the way around something in a circle.

For teachers: the act of moving or revolving around a central point or along a boundary; a single complete revolution.

- The moon makes a slow circuit around the earth every month.
- The hikers completed a full circuit of the lake, returning to their starting point just as the sun began to set.

## Examples

- The light won't turn on because the circuit is broken.
- The young tennis player spent the entire summer traveling on the professional circuit to improve her ranking.
- Engineers must ensure that the integrated circuit can handle the voltage without overheating, as any failure in the loop would render the entire device non-functional.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.