epicycloid

American  

[ep-uh-sahy-kloid] / ˌɛp əˈsaɪ klɔɪd /

noun

Geometry.

1. a curve generated by the motion of a point on the circumference of a circle that rolls externally, without slipping, on a fixed circle. Equation: x = (a +b ) cos(θ) − b cos[(a +b )θ/ b ] and y = (a +b ) sin(θ) − b sin[(a +b )θ/ b ].

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epicycloid British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈsaɪklɔɪd /

noun

1. the curve described by a point on the circumference of a circle as this circle rolls around the outside of another fixed circle, the two circles being coplanar Compare hypocycloid cycloid

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epicycloid Scientific  

/ ĕp′ĭ-sī′kloid′ /

1. The curve described by a point on the circumference of a circle as the circle rolls on the outside of the circumference of a second, fixed circle.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• epicycloidal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of epicycloid

First recorded in 1780–90; epicycle + -oid

Example Sentences

The Study and Construction of Toothed Gear.—Involute, cycloid, and epicycloid.

From Scientific American, Volume 40, No. 13, March 29, 1879 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures by Various

Cycloid External epicycloid, described by a circle rolling about a fixed circle inside of it.

From Scientific American, Volume 22, No. 1, January 1, 1870 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures. by Various

An epicycloid may be traced or generated, as it is termed, by a point in the circumference of a circle that rolls without slip upon the circumference of another circle.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

It is impossible to mill out even a convex cycloid or epicycloid, by the means and in the manner above described.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

Thomson shows that if, in certain conditions, a conductor is placed in a magnetic field, the ions have to describe an epicycloid, and their journey is thus lengthened, while the electric resistance must increase.

From The New Physics and Its Evolution by Poincaré, Lucien