cyclic

adjective

cy·clic | \ ˈsī-klik also ˈsi-

variants: or cyclical \ ˈsī-kli-kəl

, ˈsi- \

Definition of cyclic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

cyclic

noun

Definition of cyclic (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Examples of cyclic in a Sentence

Adjective

cyclic changes in the weather the cyclical nature of history

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Flutter is fundamentally different and somehow more disconcerting, requiring only a surrounding flow and no cyclic application of force. — Justin Webster, Scientific American, "Harnessing the Invisible Power of “Flutter”," 31 Mar. 2018 This cyclic behavior is intensifying, making scientists wonder if a more explosive eruption is imminent. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "Drones Peer inside a Volcano," 1 Nov. 2017 By building on this idea, volcanologists could help predict more precisely when those cyclic eruptions will come. — Shannon Hall, Scientific American, "Drones Peer inside a Volcano," 1 Nov. 2017 The scientists used a technique called protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) to test for the presence of CWD prions in soil and water taken from mineral licks in south-central Wisconsin. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "UW researchers verify chronic wasting disease prions at mineral lick sites," 2 May 2018 High import and transportation costs make seeds and fertilizer more expensive than anywhere else on the planet, while cyclic droughts pose a serious threat to crops production in a region where 98 percent is rain-fed. — Marcello Rossi, Smithsonian, "How Climate Change is Fueling Innovation in Kenya," 12 Feb. 2018 That’s a little bit cyclic as well, with the tight end production. — Jeff Zrebiec, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens want to get Benjamin Watson more involved after tight end was shut out against Pittsburgh," 15 Dec. 2017 Hunters could see dead deer as a result of the disease this hunting season, the commission said in a news alert, but should know that the recent outbreak is cyclic and the deer population will rebound. #TBT There's no season like deer season. — Joe Marusak, charlotteobserver, "Something is biting and killing North Carolina’s white-tailed deer," 20 Sep. 2017 Hunters could see dead deer as a result of the disease this hunting season, the commission said in a news alert, but should know that the recent outbreak is cyclic and the deer population will rebound. — Joe Marusak, charlotteobserver, "Something is biting and killing North Carolina’s white-tailed deer," 20 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cyclic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.