life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 2

3

: a series of stages through which something (such as an individual, culture, or manufactured product) passes during its lifetime

Examples of life cycle in a Sentence

the life cycle of a shark

Recent Examples on the Web

However, their full life cycle comprises several stages, including egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2024

Now, new video footage, in addition to other research, pulls back the veil on their mysterious life cycle. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 8 July 2024

That should technically only be there if a virus is still alive, going through its life cycle, Peluso said. —Isabella Cueto, STAT, 3 July 2024

Carson’s most radical move was calling out a different kind of life cycle, one in which scientists’ research was funded by the very industry their findings were supposed to regulate. —Prudence Peiffer, Washington Post, 28 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages of form and activity through which a living thing passes from a beginning stage (as an egg) in one individual to the same stage in its offspring

2

: life history sense 1

Medical Definition

life cycle

noun

1

: the series of stages in form and functional activity through which an organism passes between successive recurrences of a specified primary stage

2

: life history sense 1a