aperiodic

American  

[ay-peer-ee-od-ik] / ˌeɪ pɪər iˈɒd ɪk /

adjective

1. not periodic; irregular.

2. Physics. of or relating to vibrations or oscillations with no apparent period.

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aperiodic British  

/ ˌeɪpɪərɪˈɒdɪk /

adjective

1. not periodic; not occurring at regular intervals

2. physics

   1. (of a system or instrument) being damped sufficiently to reach equilibrium without oscillation

   2. (of an oscillation or vibration) not having a regular period

   3. (of an electrical circuit) not having a measurable resonant frequency

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Other Word Forms

• aperiodicity
  noun
• aperiodically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of aperiodic

First recorded in 1875–80; a- ⁶ + periodic ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aperiodic

An aperiodic monotile, by contrast, can fill a surface without ever settling into a repeating arrangement.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Both therapies showed increased aperiodic activity levels in patients' brains post-treatment.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 16, 2023

Mathematicians have proved that this hierarchical structure means the tiling can't be split into repeating sections and thus must be aperiodic.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 31, 2023

Then in March, David Smith, a hobbyist in England, and colleagues produced an aperiodic tiling using a single 13-sided shape they called a “hat.”

From Science Magazine ● Jun. 7, 2023

We shall complete our enumeration of the measuring apparatus by citing Ducretet's non-oscillating galvanometer, Sir William Thomson's amperemeters, voltameters, ohmmeters, and mhosmeters, constructed and exhibited by Breguet, and a new aperiodic galvanoscope of Mr. Maiche.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 441, June 14, 1884. by Various

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