Meaning

Characterized by, or moving in cycles, or happening at regular intervals; cyclical.

Definitions by Sense

1. Characterized by, or moving in cycles, or happening at regular intervals; cyclical
2. (chemistry, of a compound) Having chains of atoms arranged in a ring.
3. (botany) Having parts arranged in a whorl.
4. (mathematics, of a group) Being generated by only one element.
5. (geometry, of a polygon) Able to be inscribed in a circle.
6. (firearms, of an automatic weapon) Firing at its full cyclic rate.
7. (aviation) The flight control used to control a helicopter's direction and rate of horizontal movement by tilting the lift vector of the helicopter's main rotor disk.

Example Sentences

The weather had a cyclic pattern of rain and sun.

Our recent article on the York-Knaresborough-Harrogate branch mentioned that the diesel multiple-units covering the passenger service did so in the course of complicated cyclic diagrams.

Benzene and cyclohexane are both cyclic compounds.

On it came, closer and closer, and as it did so it became clear that the pilot, if he was alive, had terminal intentions. Though the torpedo somehow missed, the plane itself did not. To those watching helplessly from other stations, the ship's antiaircraft gunners, in their final moments, were an inspiration: eyes focused through iron sights on the plane as it sped at them, weapons hot, going cyclic, hunched down and never flinching until the Betty struck high on the mainmast, killing them all.

Word Forms

• more cyclic
• most cyclic
• cyclics

Synonyms for cyclic

Antonyms for cyclic

Related Words

When Should You Use Cyclic?

Use cyclic when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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