I. ˈsī-kəl noun
Etymology: Middle English cicle, from Late Latin cyclus, from Greek kyklos circle, wheel, cycle — more at wheel
Date: 14th century
1. : an interval of time during which a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed
a 4-year cycle of growth and development
2.
a. : a course or series of events or operations that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting point
b. : one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process
c. : a permutation of a set of ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the next and the last becomes first
d. : a takeoff and landing of an airplane
3. : a circular or spiral arrangement: as
a. : an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens
b. : ring 10
4. : a long period of time : age
5.
a. : a group of creative works (as poems, plays, or songs) treating the same theme
b. : a series of narratives dealing typically with the exploits of a legendary hero
the Arthurian cycle
6.
a. : bicycle
b. : tricycle
c. : motorcycle
7. : the series of a single, double, triple, and home run hit in any order by one player during one baseball game
II. verb
( cy·cled ; cy·cling ˈsī-k(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 1842
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to pass through a cycle
b. : to recur in cycles
2. : to ride a cycle ; specifically : bicycle
transitive verb
: to cause to go through a cycle
• cy·cler ˈsī-k(ə-)lər noun