circulate

Compared meaning: spread information to many people (verb).

比较义项：（使信息、观点等）传播、散布给很多人（动词）。

• circulate 本词

  Describes information (like a rumor or story) spreading informally and often unintentionally among a group of people, without one clear source controlling it.

  描述信息（如谣言、传闻）在一群人中非正式地、往往是无意地传开，没有一个明确的来源在掌控它。

  A rumor about layoffs began to circulate among the factory workers this week.

  本周，一则关于裁员的谣言开始在工厂工人中间传开。

• disseminate

  A formal word for actively and deliberately spreading information to a wide audience, usually from an official or authoritative source through organized channels.

  一个正式用词，指主动、有意地把信息传播给广泛的受众，通常是权威机构通过有组织的渠道发布。

  The health ministry disseminated the vaccination guidelines to hospitals nationwide within a day.

  卫生部在一天之内就把疫苗接种指南发布给了全国各地的医院。

• propagate

  Means to actively promote an idea or belief so that it keeps spreading and gaining followers over time; formal, and sometimes suggests a critical view of persistent, one-sided promotion.

  指积极推广某种观点或信仰，使其随着时间不断扩散、争取更多追随者；用词正式，有时带有对持续、一面倒的宣传的批评意味。

  The cult used weekly meetings to propagate its beliefs among new members.

  这个邪教利用每周的聚会向新成员传播其信仰。

These three words mean spreading information to many people. Circulate means information spreads informally among people. Disseminate means officially spreading information through organized channels. Propagate means actively promoting an idea so it keeps spreading, often critically.

这三个词都表示让信息或观点传向很多人，但语气和方式不同：circulate 侧重信息在人群中自然、非正式地口耳相传；disseminate 强调由权威或机构有意、正式地大范围发布；propagate 强调持续推广、使观点或信仰不断扩散壮大，语气较为正式，有时带贬义。这里不比较 circulate“（气体、血液等）循环、流动”的义项，也不比较 propagate“（植物、动物）繁殖”的义项。