four-cycle

[ fawr-sahy-kuh l, fohr- ]
/ ˈfɔrˌsaɪ kəl, ˈfoʊr- /

adjective

noting or pertaining to an internal-combustion engine in which a complete cycle in each cylinder requires four strokes, one to draw in air or an air-fuel mixture, one to compress it, one to ignite it and do work, and one to scavenge the cylinder.
Also four-stroke.
Compare two-cycle.

Origin of four-cycle

First recorded in 1905–10

Words nearby four-cycle

four-channel, four-color, four-color problem, four-colour, four-corners, four-cycle, four-deal bridge, four-dimensional, four-eyed, four-eyed fish, four-eyed opossum

Example sentences from the Web for four-cycle

British Dictionary definitions for four-cycle

four-cycle

adjective

US and Canadian relating to or designating an internal-combustion engine in which the piston makes four strokes for every explosion Equivalent term (in Britain and certain other countries): four-stroke Compare two-stroke