A person or thing that circulates, or a device designed to move fluid continuously in a circuit.
From Latin 'circulare' (to move in a circle) + the agent suffix '-or'. The word evolved in the 16th-17th centuries to describe both people who distribute things and mechanical devices that move substances like blood or water in circular paths.
In medical terminology, a circulator is the surgical nurse who coordinates instruments and supplies during operations—literally keeping everything 'circulating' smoothly so the surgeon never breaks focus. It's one of those specialized job titles that perfectly describes its function.
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