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