circulates

Circulates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb circulate. It describes the action of moving or being distributed from place to place, through a system, or among people.

In biological and physical contexts, circulation refers to the movement of substances within a network. For example, blood circulates through the cardiovascular system, pumped by the heart to deliver oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste. Fluids such as air, coolant, or refrigerant can circulate within engines, rooms, or environmental systems to ensure distribution, temperature control, or operation.

In economics, sociology, and everyday language, circulation describes how money, information, or rumors move within a population. Money circulates as it is spent and re-spent in commerce. Information circulates when it is shared through communication channels, media, or social networks. The term can also describe the spread of ideas or cultural items through society.

In libraries and publishing, circulation refers to the lending of materials. A library tracks items that are in circulation, loans them to patrons, and records return dates. The verb circulates is used to describe items that are currently on loan or actively moving through the lending system.

Etymology and usage: Circulate comes from the Latin circulare, from circulus meaning a small circle. Circulates is used in formal, technical, and everyday language to describe movement or distribution in present-tense subject scenarios, such as a product circulating in a market or a rumor circulating online.

Example: The rumor circulates quickly in the neighborhood. The report documents how vaccine supplies circulate through distribution channels.