acyclic

[ ey-sahy-klik, ey-sik-lik ]

/ eɪˈsaɪ klɪk, eɪˈsɪk lɪk /

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adjective

not cyclic: an acyclic flower; acyclic compounds.

Chemistry. of or relating to a compound that does not contain a closed chain or ring of atoms (contrasted with cyclic).

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of acyclic

First recorded in 1875–80; a-⁶ + cyclic

Words nearby acyclic

acute stress disorder, acutilingual, ACV, ACW, -acy, acyclic, acyclovir, acyl, acyl anhydride, acylate, acylation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use acyclic in a sentence

In acyclic flowers there is often a gradual transition from petals to stamens, as in the white water-lily (fig. 31).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5|Various
In the latter case the motion is said to be cyclic, in the former acyclic.
Lord Kelvin|Andrew Gray

British Dictionary definitions for acyclic

acyclic

/ (eɪˈsaɪklɪk, eɪˈsɪklɪk) /

adjective

chem not cyclic; having an open chain structure

botany having flower parts arranged in a spiral rather than a whorl

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for acyclic

acyclic

[ ā-sī′klĭk, ā-sĭk′lĭk ]

Not cyclic. Used especially of flowers whose parts are arranged in spirals rather than in whorls, as in magnolias.

Having an open-chain molecular structure rather than a ring-shaped structure.