aperiodic

[ey-peer-ee-od-ik]

adjective

1. not periodic; irregular.

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

aperiodic

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• aperiodically adverb
• aperiodicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aperiodic¹

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.

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

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While these findings establish a link between aperiodic activity and ECT benefits, the researchers stress the need for further investigation to leverage these insights in clinical applications.

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

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

Read more on Science Magazine