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circuit

circuit

214 3.6
A path of wires and parts that electricity flows through
  • noun
  • /ˈsɜrkɪt/
  • Specialized
: circuito
  • The electrician tested the circuit to ensure there were no breaks in the path for current to flow.
  • electrical circuit
  • closed circuit
  • short circuit

Your hobbies were building electronic circuits, building mechanical models.

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Examples

  • This will complete the circuit and the LED will light up.

  • My main circuit's blown, and both back-ups are failin'.

  • But in the circuit, where does that go to?

  • But what happens if we decided to plug in our circuit here?

  • OK, Well, what happens in this circuit when I'm switching?

  • To dump the fuel, you have to close the circuit for the pump.

  • In Electronics 1, students study basic circuits and the concepts behind the movement of current in a circuit.

    Academic text (2008)
  • OK, the current divides in the circuit and then recombines.

  • The students name complete circuits "loops of wire" and incomplete circuits "broken loops of wire."

    Academic text (2008)
  • After replacing the faulty component, the technician verified that the circuit was functioning properly.

Synonyms

closed circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
14 4.3

A complete path that lets electricity or signals flow

is a general arrangement that may not stress the path being complete
electrical circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
3 3.3

A closed path of wires and parts that lets power flow

is the shorter general word for that arrangement of parts and current flow
computer circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 3.4

An electric path inside a computer that does a specific job like processing data or storing information

is the general arrangement for current flow not focused on processing tasks
electric circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A closed path of wires and parts that lets electricity flow

is the general name used for such arrangements of parts and current
series circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Parts connected one after another so electricity has only one path and flows through each

is the general arrangement not restricted to a single linear connection of parts
light circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Wires and devices that give electricity to lights in a building

is the general arrangement rather than installations made only for lamps
parallel circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A closed path for electricity that splits into branches so devices work independently

is the general arrangement not limited to designs where current splits into branches
lighting circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Wires that supply power to the lights in a building

is the general arrangement rather than a system specific to lamps
shunt circuit
vscircuit
  • Specialized
7.6

An electric path where current splits into more than one branch and then joins again

is a general arrangement rather than specifically splitting and recombining currents

Antonyms

open circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A broken electrical path that stops electric current

Compounds

22 5.7

A federal court that reviews cases from lower courts in a group of states

circuit board
  • Specialized
19 3.7

A flat board inside devices like phones or computers that holds and connects electronic parts

short circuit
  • Specialized
18 4.2

An accidental electrical connection that lets electricity flow the wrong way and can cause damage or fire

circuit breaker
  • Specialized
17 3.9

A device that automatically stops electric current to prevent overloads

closed-circuit
  • Specialized
16 5.3

A system that keeps video or sound inside a private network

closed circuit
  • Specialized
14 4.3

A complete path that lets electricity or signals flow

A system of cameras and monitors that records and shows images for security, not for public broadcast

integrated circuit
  • Specialized
5 4.2

A small electronic chip with many connected parts that works like a complete electronic system

electrical circuit
  • Specialized
3 3.3

A closed path of wires and parts that lets power flow

control circuit
  • Specialized
2 4.2

An electrical part that manages how a machine like a motor works by changing electric signals

A track for car races with laps and many turns

printed circuit
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A flat board with metal paths that connect electronic parts

open circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A broken electrical path that stops electric current

computer circuit
  • Specialized
1 3.4

An electric path inside a computer that does a specific job like processing data or storing information

electric circuit
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A closed path of wires and parts that lets electricity flow

feedback circuit
  • Specialized
1 6.0

An electrical circuit that sends part of its output back to its input to control how it works

series circuit
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Parts connected one after another so electricity has only one path and flows through each

1 9.9

A group of hotels in the Catskills popular with Jewish guests and known for comedy shows

circuit card
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A board with electronic parts that you insert into a computer to add functions like graphics or wireless

light circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Wires and devices that give electricity to lights in a building

parallel circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A closed path for electricity that splits into branches so devices work independently

telephone circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A connection that carries voice calls between two places

resonant circuit
  • Specialized
1 7.2

An electrical device that makes a strong signal at one frequency, like a radio tuner

1 4.6

An electronic system that returns part of the output to reduce and steady the signal

AND circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.7

An electronic circuit that sends a signal only when all inputs are on

lighting circuit
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Wires that supply power to the lights in a building

bridge circuit
  • Specialized
1 6.5

An electric circuit in a diamond shape that measures resistance when you connect a meter across it

NAND circuit
  • Specialized
1 5.1

An electronic device that gives an off signal only when all inputs are on

borsht circuit
  • Archaic
9.9

Group of resorts in the Catskills where Jewish performers, especially comedians, often worked

circuit breaker
  • Specialized
4.5

A way in software to stop contacting a failing service to prevent more failures

pulse timing circuit
  • Specialized
8.3

An electronic part that makes or controls short electrical signals at exact times

OR circuit
  • Specialized
3.6

A circuit that turns its output on when any input is on

tank circuit
  • Specialized
7.2

An electric circuit with a coil and a capacitor that makes or picks an electrical signal at a specific frequency

shunt circuit
  • Specialized
7.6

An electric path where current splits into more than one branch and then joins again

squelch circuit
  • Specialized
7.5

A circuit in a radio that mutes the sound when the signal is weaker than background noise

XOR circuit
  • Specialized
6.8

An electronic circuit that gives an on output only when an odd number of its inputs are on

X-OR circuit
  • Specialized
7.8

A circuit that sends a signal when two inputs are different

How Complex

integrated circuit
  • Specialized
5 4.2
circuit
  • Specialized
214 3.6

Surface Forms

circuit singular
circuits plural

Etymology

Circuit comes from the old Latin root circum meaning 'around', the same idea as circle. So an electrical circuit is a path that goes in a complete loop and lets current flow around it.