cycle

1 of 2

noun

cy·​cle ˈsī-kəl 

1

: an interval of time during which a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed

a 4-year cycle of growth and development

2

a

: a course or series of events or operations that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting point

… the common cycle of birth, growth, senescence, and death.

—T. C. Schneirla and Gerard Piel

b

: one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process

c

: a permutation of a set of ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the next and the last becomes first

d

: a takeoff and landing of an airplane

3

: a circular or spiral arrangement: such as

a

: an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens

b

: ring sense 10

4

: a long period of time : age

5

a

: a group of creative works (such as poems, plays, or songs) treating the same theme

a cycle of poems about unrequited love

b

: a series of narratives dealing typically with the exploits of a legendary hero

the Arthurian cycle

6

a

: bicycle

b

: tricycle

c

: motorcycle

7

: the series of a single, double, triple, and home run hit in any order by one player during one baseball game

cycle

2 of 2

verb

cycled; cycling ˈsī-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to pass through a cycle

The menu cycles through all the options.

Because the traditional HVAC system cycles on and off—and is powered down when you leave—relief is inconsistent at best.

—Sarah Littleton

b

: to recur in cycles

Freezing temperatures … aren't the problem. It's when temperatures cycle between freezing and thaws, causing pavement to contract and expand … that can create larger issues.

—Jonathan Oosting

2

: to ride a cycle

specifically : bicycle

She cycles to work.

transitive verb

: to cause to go through a cycle

The fact that it [the pump] runs constantly may be a bad sign. It may be cycling the water, not removing it.

—Popular Mechanics

Everything is constantly cycled in nature. There is abundant waste in nature, just as there is in industry, but in nature waste constantly flows back into living systems.

—Paul Hawken and William McDonough

cycler

ˈsī-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• circle
• merry-go-round
• round
• wheel
• zodiac

Examples of cycle in a Sentence

Noun

We have to wait for the dishwasher's wash and dry cycles to end.

the spin cycle on a washing machine

He rode his cycle into town.

Verb

The water is cycled back into the system after it has been used.

The water cycles back into the system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But healthy pay increases have fueled spending, which, in turn, has juiced the economy and labor market, creating a virtuous cycle. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

True intervention requires understanding abuse in ways that aren’t binary, and the show would have benefited tremendously from asking a mental-health expert to talk about these cycles. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cicle, from Late Latin cyclus, from Greek kyklos circle, wheel, cycle — more at wheel

Verb

derivative of cycle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1842, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing cycle

• business cycle
• Calvin cycle
• carbon cycle
• cell cycle
• citric acid cycle
• estral cycle
• estrous cycle
• growth cycle
• hydrologic cycle
• Krebs cycle
• life cycle
• menstrual cycle
• nitrogen cycle
• oxygen cycle
• self-perpetuating cycle
• song cycle
• tricarboxylic acid cycle
• two-cycle
• virtuous cycle
• water cycle

Kids Definition

cycle

1 of 2 noun

cy·​cle ˈsī-kəl 

1

: a period of time taken up by a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order

the cycle of the seasons

2

a

: a series of events or operations that happen again and again regularly and usually lead back to the starting point

the cycle of blood from the heart, through the blood vessels, and back again

the drying cycle of a dishwasher

b

: one complete occurrence of a cycle

a cycle of alternating current

the cycle of a vibration

3

: a long period of time : age

cyclic

ˈsī-klik

 also  ˈsik-lik

adjective

or cyclical

ˈsī-kli-kəl,

ˈsik-li-

cyclically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

cycle

2 of 2 verb

cy·​cle

ˈsī-kəl,

ˈsik-əl

cycled; cycling

ˈsī-k(ə-)liŋ,

ˈsik(-ə)-liŋ

: to ride a bicycle or motorcycle

Medical Definition

cycle

1 of 2 noun

cy·​cle ˈsī-kəl 

1

: a recurring series of events: as

a(1)

: a series of stages through which an organism tends to pass once in a fixed order

the common cycle of birth, growth, senescence and death

—T. C. Schneirla & Gerard Piel

also : a series of stages through which a population of organisms tends to pass more or less in synchrony

the mosquito-hatching cycle

see life cycle

(2)

: a series of physiological, biochemical, or psychological stages that recur in the same individual see cardiac cycle, menstrual cycle krebs cycle

b

: one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process

c

: a series of ecological stages through which a substance tends to pass and which usually but not always leads back to the starting point

the cycle of nitrogen in the living world

2

: ring sense 2

cyclic

ˈsī-klik also ˈsik-lik

adjective

or cyclical

ˈsī-kli-kəl  ˈsik-li- 

cyclically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

also cyclicly

ˈsī-kli-klē, ˈsik-li- 

cycle

2 of 2 intransitive verb

cycled; cycling

: to undergo the estrous cycle

the mare has begun cycling