cyclic

American  

[sahy-klik, sik-lik] / ˈsaɪ klɪk, ˈsɪk lɪk /

adjective

1. revolving or recurring in cycles; characterized by recurrence in cycles.

2. of, relating to, or constituting a cycle or cycles.

3. Chemistry. of or relating to a compound that contains a closed chain or ring of atoms (acyclic ).

4. Botany.

   1. arranged in whorls, as the parts of a flower.

   2. (of a flower) having the parts so arranged.

5. Mathematics.

   1. pertaining to an algebraic system in which all the elements of a group are powers of one element.

   2. (of a set of elements) arranged as if on a circle, so that the first element follows the last.

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cyclic British  

/ ˈsɪklɪk, ˈsaɪklɪkəl, ˈsɪklɪkəl, ˈsaɪklɪk /

adjective

1. recurring or revolving in cycles

2. (of an organic compound) containing a closed saturated or unsaturated ring of atoms See also heterocyclic homocyclic

3. botany

   1. arranged in whorls

      cyclic petals

   2. having parts arranged in this way

      cyclic flowers

4. music of or relating to a musical form consisting of several movements sharing thematic material

5. geometry (of a polygon) having vertices that lie on a circle

6. (in generative grammar) denoting one of a set of transformational rules all of which must apply to a clause before any one of them applies to any clause in which the first clause is embedded

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cyclic Scientific  

/ sĭk′lĭk,sī′klĭk /

1. Occurring or moving in cycles.

2. Relating to a compound having atoms arranged in a ring or closed-chain structure. Benzene is a cyclic compound.

3. Having parts arranged in a whorl.

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Other Word Forms

• cyclically adverb
• cyclicity noun
• noncyclic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyclic

1785–95; < Latin cyclicus < Greek kyklikós circular. See cycle, -ic

Example Sentences

“Reproductive-age women from puberty to menopause have significant cyclic changes in their sex hormones during the course of their menstrual cycle,” says Dr. Kacey M. Hamilton, a complex benign gynecologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

From someone who described himself as "the all-knowing master of the universe", he now identifies as a God-fearing man who believes in good energies, the cyclic nature of life and "scientific astrologers".

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2025

As the Earth's atmosphere was already supercharged with carbon dioxide from the large-scale volcanism, this cyclic modulation of the climate system repeatedly triggered forest dieback, allowing for the renewed spread of pioneer ferns.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2024

PDE4B is an enzyme inside cells that breaks down a molecule known as cyclic AMP, which regulates a range of cellular processes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2024

Grain by grain, molecule by molecule, carbohydrate fuel in the form of glucose is fed into this wheel; in its cyclic passage the fuel molecule undergoes fragmentation and a series of minute chemical changes.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson