# cyclic

/ˈsaɪkɫɪk/ (US) · /sˈaɪklɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cyclic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. repeating in cycles

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The economy often follows a cyclic pattern of growth followed by a slowdown.
- The cyclic nature of the fashion industry ensures that styles from thirty years ago inevitably return to the mainstream market.

### 2. ring-shaped atoms

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: relating to or denoting organic compounds that contain a ring of atoms.

- Benzene is a well-known cyclic compound used in many industrial processes.
- The researcher focused on the synthesis of large cyclic molecules that could mimic the behavior of natural enzymes.

### 3. math/geometry

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- A cyclic quadrilateral is a four-sided shape where all corners sit on a circle.
- The proof relies on the properties of cyclic groups, specifically that every element can be expressed as a power of a single generator.

### 4. helicopter control

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The pilot moved the cyclic forward to increase the helicopter's speed.
- Maintaining a steady hover requires constant, minute adjustments to the cyclic to counteract the effects of the wind.

## Examples

- The economy often follows a cyclic pattern of growth and recession.
- Farmers must understand the cyclic nature of the seasons to decide when to plant and harvest their crops.
- The researcher argued that the historical data revealed a cyclic trend in climate variations, suggesting that the current warming period might follow a predictable long-term trajectory.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.