CYCLIC


Meaning of CYCLIC in English

I. ˈsīklik, -lēk also ˈsik- adjective

Etymology: French or Latin; French cyclique, from Latin cyclicus, from Greek kyklikos, from kyklos cycle, circle + -ikos -ic — more at wheel

1.

a. : of, relating to, or belonging to a cycle

b. : moving in cycles

cyclic time

c. : being a cycle

the cyclic fate of the individual life — H.G.Wells

2.

a. : of, belonging to, or relating to a cycle of writings

a cyclic narrative

b. : being concerned with the production of cyclic writings

a cyclic poet

3. classical prosody : being of shortened time value in verse analyzed as logaoedic in rhythm — used especially of a dactylic foot; compare trochaic dactyl

4. of a plant : having the floral leaves arranged in cycles

5.

a. : recurrent at definite or stated periods

cyclic phenomena

cyclic breathing

b. of animals : subject to cycle (sense 2h) — compare irruptive

6. : of, relating to, or characterized by a ring of atoms

benzene and pyridine are cyclic compounds

— see carbocyclic , heterocyclic , isocyclic

II. noun

( -s )

: a cyclic chemical compound

III. adjective

1. : being a mathematical group that has an element such that every element of the group can be expressed as one of its powers

2. of a polygon : having all vertices lying on the circumference of a circle

a cyclic octagon that does not intersect itself

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.