— heterocycle /het"euhr euh suy'keuhl/ , n.
/het'euhr euh suy"klik, -sik"lik/ , adj. Chem.
1. of or pertaining to the branch of chemistry dealing with cyclic compounds in which at least one of the ring members is not a carbon atom (contrasted with homocyclic ).
2. noting such compounds, as ethylene oxide, C 2 H 4 O.
[ 1895-1900; HETERO- + CYCLIC ]