hypocycloid

American  

[hahy-puh-sahy-kloid] / ˌhaɪ pəˈsaɪ klɔɪd /

noun

Geometry.

1. a curve generated by the motion of a point on the circumference of a circle that rolls internally, without slipping, on a given circle.

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hypocycloid British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈsaɪklɔɪd /

noun

1. a curve described by a point on the circumference of a circle as the circle rolls around the inside of a fixed coplanar circle Compare epicycloid cycloid

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hypocycloid Scientific  

/ hī′pō-sī′kloid′ /

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

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Other Word Forms

• hypocycloidal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypocycloid

First recorded in 1835–45; hypo- + cycloid

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypocycloid

Figure 1.10 Graph of the hypocycloid described by the parametric equations shown.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

Figure 7.10 Graph of the hypocycloid described by the parametric equations shown.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

You can make a hypocycloid by rolling a circle around in a circle, and you can also roll a hypocycloid around in another hypocycloid!

From Scientific American ● Dec. 4, 2013

A 2-cusped hypocycloid rolling inside a 3-cusped hypocycloid rolling inside a 4-cusped hypocycloid, all the way up to a 10-cusped hypocycloid.

From Scientific American ● Dec. 4, 2013

If the radius of the rolling circle be one-half of the fixed circle, the hypocycloid becomes a diameter of this circle; this may be confirmed from the equation to the hypocycloid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various