aperiodic

American  

[ey-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  

/ ˌeɪpɪərɪəˈdɪsɪtɪ, 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

• aperiodically adverb
• aperiodicity noun

Etymology

Origin of aperiodic

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

Example Sentences

Schrodinger suggested that a substance he called an “aperiodic crystal,” which might be a molecule, was the substance that passed on hereditary information.

From Los Angeles Times

"On the other hand, aperiodic neurophysiology refers to brain signals that are not rhythmic."

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily

For decades mathematicians have been hunting for tile shapes like these that can form only nonrepeating arrangements, called aperiodic tilings.

From Scientific American

The first such “aperiodic tiling” was discovered in the 1960s and comprised 104 different shapes.

From Science Magazine