noun
: a cycle in a steam engine using heat that would ordinarily be lost: as
a. : a multiple-expansion steam-engine cycle in which the receivers are used as successive feed-water heaters
b. : a steam-turbine cycle in which the condensate or feed water is heated to a temperature that is much higher than that corresponding to saturation at the exhaust pressure by means of steam that has been bled from the turbine at points intermediate between the throttle and exhaust