cyclic

[ sahy-klik, sik-lik ]
/ ˈsaɪ klɪk, ˈsɪk lɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cyclic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

revolving or recurring in cycles; characterized by recurrence in cycles.
of, relating to, or constituting a cycle or cycles.
Chemistry. of or relating to a compound that contains a closed chain or ring of atoms (contrasted with acyclic).
Botany.
  1. arranged in whorls, as the parts of a flower.
  2. (of a flower) having the parts so arranged.
Mathematics.
  1. pertaining to an algebraic system in which all the elements of a group are powers of one element.
  2. (of a set of elements) arranged as if on a circle, so that the first element follows the last.

Origin of cyclic

1785–95; < Latin cyclicus < Greek kyklikós circular. See cycle, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM cyclic

cy·clic·i·ty [sahy-klis-i-tee] /saɪˈklɪs ɪ ti/, noun non·cy·clic, adjective

Words nearby cyclic

cycle of indiction, cyclecar, cyclectomy, cyclencephaly, cyclery, cyclic, cyclic amp, cyclic compound, cyclic gmp, cyclic neutropenia, cyclic pitch lever

Words related to cyclic

cyclical, periodic, periodical, recurring

Example sentences from the Web for cyclic

British Dictionary definitions for cyclic

cyclic

cyclical (ˈsaɪklɪkəl, ˈsɪklɪkəl)

/ (ˈsaɪklɪk, ˈsɪklɪk) /

adjective

recurring or revolving in cycles
(of an organic compound) containing a closed saturated or unsaturated ring of atoms See also heterocyclic, homocyclic
botany
  1. arranged in whorlscyclic petals
  2. having parts arranged in this waycyclic flowers
music of or relating to a musical form consisting of several movements sharing thematic material
geometry (of a polygon) having vertices that lie on a circle
(in generative grammar) denoting one of a set of transformational rules all of which must apply to a clause before any one of them applies to any clause in which the first clause is embedded

Derived forms of cyclic

cyclically, adverb

Medical definitions for cyclic

cyclic
[ sī′klĭk, sĭk′lĭk ]

adj.

Relating to or characterized by cycles.
Recurring or moving in cycles.
Relating to chemical compounds having atoms arranged in a ring or closed-chain structure.

Other words from cyclic

cy′cli•cal′i•ty (sĭk′lə-kăl′ĭ-tē, sī′klə-) n. cy′cli•cal•ly adv.

Scientific definitions for cyclic

cyclic
[ sĭk′lĭk, sī′klĭk ]

Occurring or moving in cycles.
Relating to a compound having atoms arranged in a ring or closed-chain structure. Benzene is a cyclic compound.
Having parts arranged in a whorl.