cyclic

1 of 2

adjective

cy·​clic ˈsī-klik How to pronounce cyclic (audio)
also
ˈsi- How to pronounce cyclic (audio)
variants or cyclical
1
a
: of, relating to, or being a cycle
b
: moving in cycles
cyclic time
c
: of, relating to, or being a chemical compound containing a ring of atoms
2
cyclic : being a mathematical group that has an element such that every element of the group can be expressed as one of its powers
cyclically adverb
or less commonly cyclicly

cyclic

2 of 2

noun

: a helicopter control that governs horizontal thrust by adjusting the pitch of individual rotor blades during their rotation

Examples of cyclic in a Sentence

Adjective cyclic changes in the weather the cyclical nature of history
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This revelation constrains modern understanding of the Pleistocene sea level fluctuations during an epoch of lower carbon dioxide concentrations, the cyclic glaciation and deglaciation periods, ecosystem recovery, and the transition between warming and cooling periods. Carly Miller, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 In a cyclic business, flexibility is the coin of the realm. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2024
Noun
Researchers sorted 114 people into four groups and asked them to practice mindful meditation or one breathing exercise — box breathing, cyclic hyperventilation or cyclic sighing — for five minutes a day for 28 days. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 7 Mar. 2023 New cyclic models get around the problem, Kinney and one of his colleagues have found, by requiring that the universe expands by a lot with each cycle. James Riordon, Scientific American, 24 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for cyclic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cyclic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French cyclique, going back to Middle French, "of a narrative cycle," borrowed from Latin cyclicus "of a cycle of epics" (Late Latin also, "circular, encyclopedic, recurrent [of a sickness, fever, etc.]), borrowed from Greek kyklikós "of a circle, circular, of a cycle of epics," from kýklos "circle, wheel" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at wheel entry 1

Noun

short for cyclic pitch control

First Known Use

Adjective

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyclic was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near cyclic

Cite this Entry

“Cyclic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclic. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

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