circulation / orbit
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circulation
The circulation of things such as money, rumors, or documents, in which they are passed from person to person.
Die Zentralbank bringt neue Geldscheine in Umlauf.
The central bank puts new banknotes into circulation.
The word consists of 'um' (around) and 'Lauf' (run/course, from laufen, to run). Literally, it describes a movement that goes 'around' something. This basic idea appears in all meanings: money circulates, a planet orbits the sun, a document circulates around the office.
Der Umlauf der Erde um die Sonne dauert ein Jahr.
The Earth's orbit around the sun takes one year.
In connection with money or information, the phrases 'etwas in Umlauf bringen' (to put something into circulation / to spread something) and 'im Umlauf sein' (to be in circulation / to be going around) are very common.
Es sind gefälschte Banknoten im Umlauf.
Counterfeit banknotes are in circulation.
In astronomy, 'Umlauf' (orbit) describes the path of an object. People often speak of 'einem Umlauf um' (one orbit around) another object, or say that something 'im Umlauf befindet' (is in orbit).
Der Satellit befindet sich in einem stabilen Umlauf.
The satellite is in a stable orbit.
This meaning is typical in the workplace. When people talk about an 'Umlauf' (circulation document) that has to be signed, they always mean a document or folder that is being passed around the department.
Der Chef hat einen Umlauf zur neuen Urlaubsregelung gestartet.
The boss started a circulation document about the new vacation policy.
train / track
'die Bahn' and 'der Umlauf' can both describe the movement of a body in space, for example with planets or satellites. In this context, 'die Bahn' means the path or route along which something moves. 'der Umlauf' puts more emphasis on the complete trip around another body. Learners may confuse the words because they are very close in this context. As a guide: the 'Bahn' is the path, while the 'Umlauf' is the movement once around something, or this cycle.
Ein Umlauf des Mondes um die Erde dauert etwa einen Monat.
One orbit of the moon around the Earth takes about a month.
Der Satellit bewegt sich auf einer festen Bahn um die Erde.
The satellite moves around the Earth in a fixed orbit.