four-cycle

American  

[fawr-sahy-kuhl, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌsaɪ kəl, ˈfoʊr- /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to an internal-combustion engine in which a complete cycle in each cylinder requires four strokes, one to draw in air or an air-fuel mixture, one to compress it, one to ignite it and do work, and one to scavenge the cylinder.

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four-cycle British  

adjective

1. Equivalent term (in Britain and certain other countries): four-stroke.  relating to or designating an internal-combustion engine in which the piston makes four strokes for every explosion Compare two-stroke

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Etymology

Origin of four-cycle

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

What is the best kind of engine—the two cycle? three cycle? four cycle?

From The Cruise of the Snark by London, Jack