English Reference
adjective · noun

cyclic

adj. · n.
US /ˈsaɪkɫɪk/ UK /sˈaɪklɪk/ cyclic

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.happening in a regular pattern that repeats over and over again.

    adj.occurring in cycles or happening at regular intervals; characterized by a repeating sequence of events.

    Simple

    The economy often follows a cyclic pattern of growth followed by a slowdown.

    In context

    The cyclic nature of the fashion industry ensures that styles from thirty years ago inevitably return to the mainstream market.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Chemistry

    adj.describing a chemical structure where atoms are joined together in a ring.

    adj.relating to or denoting organic compounds that contain a ring of atoms.

    Simple

    Benzene is a well-known cyclic compound used in many industrial processes.

    In context

    The researcher focused on the synthesis of large cyclic molecules that could mimic the behavior of natural enzymes.

    acyclic
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    adj.describing a shape where all the corners can touch a single circle.

    adj.denoting a polygon whose vertices all lie on a single circle; in group theory, generated by a single element.

    Simple

    A cyclic quadrilateral is a four-sided shape where all corners sit on a circle.

    In context

    The proof relies on the properties of cyclic groups, specifically that every element can be expressed as a power of a single generator.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    n.the stick a helicopter pilot uses to change the direction of travel.

    n.the primary flight control used to manage a helicopter's horizontal movement by tilting the main rotor disk.

    Simple

    The pilot moved the cyclic forward to increase the helicopter's speed.

    In context

    Maintaining a steady hover requires constant, minute adjustments to the cyclic to counteract the effects of the wind.

    control stick

From French cyclique or its etymon Classical Latin cyclicus, from Ancient Greek κυκλικός (kuklikós). By surface analysis, cycle + -ic. Piecewise doublet of chakric.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek κυκλικός
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated