circuit

/ˈsɜːkɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɜːrkɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsər-kət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsɜː.kɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɝː.kɪt/ (ame, ipa)

circuit — 名詞

  • circuitsingular
  • circuitsplural

1. a complete path that electricity flows through, made of wires and electronic par

1.名詞C2
釋義

電路；迴路

電流或液體流經的封閉路徑

a complete path that electricity flows through, made of wires and electronic parts; or a system of pipes through which a liquid or gas flows in a closed loop.

例句

A short circuit in the kitchen caused the lights to go out.

廚房裡的電線短路導致燈都熄滅了。

collocation: short circuit

The electrician checked every circuit in the apartment for loose wires.

電工檢查了公寓裡的每一條電路，看有沒有鬆脫的電線。

同義詞
  • wiring

    refers to the physical wires, not the complete path they form

  • loop

    can describe a closed path but is less precise in electrical contexts

用法筆記

The most common sense in everyday language. 'Short circuit' is a fixed compound noun meaning an unintended connection that stops the normal flow. 'Closed circuit' describes a system where the same material (water, refrigerant) circulates repeatedly.

常見錯誤

❌The electricity stopped because the flow broke.
✅The electricity stopped because the circuit was broken.
💡'circuit' names the path; a break in the path stops the current.
❌I need to fix the current in this lamp.
✅I need to fix the circuit in this lamp.
💡'current' is the flow moving through the 'circuit' (the path).

2. a path, route, or track that forms a closed loop, returning to its starting poin

2.名詞C2
釋義

環形道；賽道

起終點相同的環狀路徑

a path, route, or track that forms a closed loop, returning to its starting point — used for racing, walking, or driving around a particular area.

例句

The running circuit around the lake is exactly two kilometers long.

湖邊的跑步路線正好兩公里長。

collocation: running circuit

Race cars reached speeds of three hundred kilometers per hour on the tight racing circuit.

賽車在狹窄的賽道上以每小時三百公里的速度奔馳。

collocation: racing circuit

同義詞
  • track

    focuses on the surface used for racing; 'circuit' emphasizes the closed-loop shape

  • loop

    a simpler word for any curved path returning to its start; less technical than 'circuit'

  • course

    the general path or direction of movement, not necessarily closed

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 3 (SERIES OF VISITS): this sense refers to a physical path or track, not a schedule of events. A 'circuit' in this sense can be measured in distance (kilometers, laps).

常見錯誤

❌She ran one circle around the park.
✅She ran one circuit around the park.
💡'circuit' is the standard noun for a complete loop; 'circle' is the geometric shape.
❌The motorcycle track was a closed loop of two miles.
✅The motorcycle circuit was a closed loop of two miles.
💡'circuit' is preferred for racing tracks.

3. a set of stops at different places that a performer, speaker, or athlete attends

3.名詞C2
釋義

巡迴

定期前往不同地點的系列活動

a set of stops at different places that a performer, speaker, or athlete attends in a regular order, moving from one location to the next — for instance, a comedian appearing at clubs nationwide, or a tennis player competing in tournaments internationally.

例句

The comedian spent two years on the club circuit before anyone noticed him.

那位喜劇演員在俱樂部巡迴圈待了兩年，才有人注意到他。

collocation: on the [noun] circuit

After winning the award, the director joined the international film-festival circuit.

獲獎後，這位導演加入了國際影展巡迴行列。

同義詞
  • tour

    focuses on the journey itself; 'circuit' implies a repeated or regular schedule of stops

  • itinerary

    more formal and refers to a planned travel schedule, not necessarily repeated

  • rotation

    suggests a fixed repeating cycle of places or people

文法句型

circuit + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often follows the preposition 'on' (e.g. 'on the comedy circuit', 'on the lecture circuit'). The noun before 'circuit' usually names the type of event or profession.

常見錯誤

❌She joined the round of fashion shows.
✅She joined the fashion-show circuit.
💡'circuit' implies a regular series, not just one round.
❌He works on the circle of music festivals.
✅He works on the music-festival circuit.
💡'circuit', not 'circle', is the correct noun for a series of connected events.

4. a geographic area or district that a judge travels to in order to hear legal cas

4.名詞C2
釋義

司法轄區

法官巡迴審理案件的區域

a geographic area or district that a judge travels to in order to hear legal cases in different courts; also the group of courts within that area.

例句

Judge Okafor presides over the ninth judicial circuit, covering five rural counties.

Okafor 法官負責第九司法巡迴區，涵蓋五個鄉村縣。

collocation: judicial circuit

The lawyer has practiced law in this circuit for over twenty years.

這位律師在這個司法轄區執業已超過二十年。

同義詞
  • district

    a geographic division but without the historical sense of a traveling judge

  • jurisdiction

    the legal authority of a court, not necessarily tied to a traveling route

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in legal contexts. In the United States, the federal court system is divided into numbered 'circuits' (e.g. the Ninth Circuit), each with a court of appeals.

常見錯誤

❌The criminal was tried in the city circuit.
✅The criminal was tried in the circuit court for that district.
💡'circuit' alone is not a place; it describes the court system or area.
❌The judge made a circuit around the courtroom.
✅The judge presides over a circuit of several counties.
💡'circuit' in law means an area, not a physical lap.

circuit — 動詞