Rankine cycle

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noun Thermodynamics.

the hypothetical cycle of a steam engine in which all heat transfers take place at constant pressure and in which expansion and compression occur adiabatically.

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Also called Clausius cycle.

Origin of Rankine cycle

First recorded in 1895–1900; named after W. J. M. Rankine

Words nearby Rankine cycle

ranked-choice voting, ranker, ranket, Rankin, Rankine, Rankine cycle, Rankine scale, ranking, ranking member, Rankin, Jeanette, rankism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Rankine cycle in a sentence

It almost mirrors the Buddhist cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The Buddhist Business of Poaching Animals for Good Karma|Brendon Hong|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eventually, the mistletoe bush grows, blooms, and forms berries, and the cycle begins anew.
Mistletoe is the Vampire of Plants|Helen Thompson|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Newsroom aired its final episode on Sunday, already an eternity ago in news-cycle terms.
A Few Great Men Too Many: Aaron Sorkin Doesn’t Think You Can Handle the Truth|Arthur Chu|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To break her self-destructive cycle and heal, she decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail solo.
Exclusive: The Making of Reese Witherspoon’s Golden Globe-Nominated ‘Wild’|Marlow Stern|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Especially given that we just spent almost $4 billion during the 2013-14 election cycle?
Just What We Needed: More Campaign Spending|Mark McKinnon|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sexual cycle can take place only within the body of one genus of mosquito, anopheles.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Here they enter red corpuscles as young malarial parasites, and the majority pass through the asexual cycle just described.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Still hanging to Clip's canteen, he jerked the motor-cycle away from the bushes, got into the saddle, and started the pedals.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Matt went down, with the motor-cycle on top of him, head and shoulders over the brink of the precipice.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Matt had come to a quick stop, disengaging his right foot from the toe-clip and bracing the motor-cycle upright.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for Rankine cycle

Rankine cycle

/ (ˈræŋkɪn) /

noun

the thermodynamic cycle in steam engines by which water is pumped into a boiler at one end and the steam is condensed at the other

Word Origin for Rankine cycle

C19: named after W. J. M. Rankine (1820–72), Scottish physicist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012