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circuit definition - telecom
  1. A closed loop comprising a number of elements such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and power sources connected together for the purpose of carrying an electrical current.
  2. An end-to-end communications path between a transmitter and a receiver. Circuit generally implies a logical connection, or session, over a physical medium. Circuit often is used interchangeably with path, link, line, and channel, although the usage can be specific to the underlying technology, the overall context, and other factors. Circuits can be characterized in many ways. For example, a circuit can be either two-wire or fourwire in nature, for either access or transport applications. A circuit can be simplex, half-duplex, or fullduplex in nature. A circuit can be dedicated, switched, or virtual in nature. A circuit sometimes is referred to in the vernacular as a pipe, as in a broadband pipe. See also channel, four-wire circuit, line, link, path, twowire circuit, and virtual circuit.

Webster's New World Telecom Dictionary Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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