CYCLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cycle mean? 

• CYCLE (noun)
  The noun CYCLE has 6 senses:

1. an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs

2. a series of poems or songs on the same theme

3. a periodically repeated sequence of events

4. the unit of frequency; one hertz has a periodic interval of one second (named for Heinrich Rudolph Hertz)

5. a single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon

6. a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

  Familiarity information: CYCLE used as a noun is common.

• CYCLE (verb)
  The verb CYCLE has 5 senses:

1. cause to go through a recurring sequence

2. pass through a cycle

3. ride a motorcycle

4. ride a bicycle

5. recur in repeating sequences

  Familiarity information: CYCLE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CYCLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

cycle; rhythm; round

Context example:

the never-ending cycle of the seasons

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

interval; time interval (a definite length of time marked off by two instants)

Meronyms (parts of "cycle"):

phase; phase angle (a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle)

Derivation:

cyclic (recurring in cycles)

cycle (cause to go through a recurring sequence)

cycle (pass through a cycle)

cycle (recur in repeating sequences)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A series of poems or songs on the same theme

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

Schubert's song cycles

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A periodically repeated sequence of events

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

a cycle of reprisal and retaliation

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

repeat; repetition (an event that repeats)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cycle"):

merry-go-round (a never-ending cycle of activities and events (especially when they seem to have little purpose))

samsara ((Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth)

Derivation:

cycle (recur in repeating sequences)

cycle (pass through a cycle)

cycle (cause to go through a recurring sequence)

cyclic (recurring in cycles)

cyclic (marked by repeated cycles)

cyclical (recurring in cycles)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The unit of frequency; one hertz has a periodic interval of one second (named for Heinrich Rudolph Hertz)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

cps; cycle; cycle per second; cycles/second; hertz; Hz

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

rate (a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit)

Holonyms ("cycle" is a part of...):

kc; kHz; kilocycle; kilocycle per second; kilohertz (one thousand periods per second)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

cycle; oscillation

Context example:

a year constitutes a cycle of the seasons

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

periodic event; recurrent event (an event that recurs at intervals)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cycle"):

pass (one complete cycle of operations (as by a computer))

menstrual cycle (a recurring cycle (beginning at menarche and ending at menopause) in which the endometrial lining of the uterus prepares for pregnancy; if pregnancy does not occur the lining is shed at menstruation)

Carnot's ideal cycle; Carnot cycle (a cycle (of expansion and compression) of an idealized reversible heat engine that does work without loss of heat)

cardiac cycle (the complete cycle of events in the heart from the beginning of one heart beat to the beginning of the next; an electrical impulse conducted through the heart muscle that constricts the atria which is followed by constriction of the ventricles)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; wheel

Hypernyms ("cycle" is a kind of...):

wheeled vehicle (a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people)

Meronyms (parts of "cycle"):

kickstand (a swiveling metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle; the rod lies horizontally when not in use but can be kicked into a vertical position as a support to hold the vehicle upright when it is not being ridden)

mudguard; splash-guard; splash guard (a curved piece above the wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle to protect the rider from water or mud thrown up by the wheels)

foot lever; foot pedal; pedal; treadle (a lever that is operated with the foot)

handlebar (the shaped bar used to steer a bicycle)

coaster brake (a brake on a bicycle that engages with reverse pressure on the pedals)

sprocket; sprocket wheel (thin wheel with teeth that engage with a chain)

chain (a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament)

bicycle wheel (the wheel of a bicycle)

bicycle seat; saddle (a seat for the rider of a bicycle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cycle"):

all-terrain bike; mountain bike; off-roader (a bicycle with a sturdy frame and fat tires; originally designed for riding in mountainous country)

ordinary; ordinary bicycle (an early bicycle with a very large front wheel and small back wheel)

push-bike (a bicycle that must be pedaled)

safety bicycle; safety bike (bicycle that has two wheels of equal size; pedals are connected to the rear wheel by a multiplying gear)

velocipede (any of several early bicycles with pedals on the front wheel)

bicycle-built-for-two; tandem; tandem bicycle (a bicycle with two sets of pedals and two seats)

Derivation:

cyclist (a person who rides a bicycle)

• CYCLE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to go through a recurring sequence

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

cycle the laundry in this washing program

Hypernyms (to "cycle" is one way to...):

make pass; pass (cause to pass)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cycle"):

recycle (cause to repeat a cycle)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

cycle (a periodically repeated sequence of events)

cycle (an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pass through a cycle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

This machine automatically cycles

Hypernyms (to "cycle" is one way to...):

pass (go across or through)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cycle"):

cycle on (come to the starting point of a cycle)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

cycle (a periodically repeated sequence of events)

cycle (an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Ride a motorcycle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

cycle; motorbike; motorcycle

Hypernyms (to "cycle" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

"Cycle" entails doing...:

kick (strike with the foot)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

cycling (the sport of traveling on a bicycle or motorcycle)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Ride a bicycle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bicycle; bike; cycle; pedal; wheel

Hypernyms (to "cycle" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cycle"):

unicycle (ride a unicycle)

backpedal (pedal backwards on a bicycle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

cycling (the sport of traveling on a bicycle or motorcycle)

cyclist (a person who rides a bicycle)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Recur in repeating sequences

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "cycle" is one way to...):

recur; repeat (happen or occur again)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

cycle (a periodically repeated sequence of events)

cycle (an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs)

 Context examples 

The X9.3 flare was the largest flare so far in the current solar cycle, the approximately 11-year-cycle during which the sun’s activity waxes and wanes.

(Two Significant Solar Flares Imaged by NASA's SDO, NASA)

Melatonin Secretion Induction involves initiation of activities involved in release into the bloodstream from the pineal gland of a hormone (melatonin) implicated in regulation of sleep, mood, puberty, and ovarian cycles.

(Melatonin Secretion Process, NCI Thesaurus)

The monthly cycle of hormonal changes from the beginning of one menstrual period to the beginning of the next.

(Menstrual cycle, NCI Dictionary)

The horse and trap were to have come this week, but for some reason they were not delivered, and again I had to cycle to the station.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This protein is involved in the regulation of both the cell cycle and apoptosis.

(Acidic Leucine-Rich Nuclear Phosphoprotein 32 Family Member B, NCI Thesaurus)

This hormone binds to and activates melatonin receptors and is involved in regulating the sleep and wake cycles.

(Melatonin, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ABL1 protein, plays a role in cell cycle regulation and ribosomal biogenesis.

(ABL1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

But new ALMA observations provide insights into explosions at the other end of the stellar life cycle, star birth.

(ALMA Captures Dramatic Stellar Fireworks, ESO)

For most women, one cycle takes 28 days.

(Menstrual cycle, NCI Thesaurus)

But after cycling and cycling and cycling, tens of millions of cycles, it breaks.

(Discovery may lead to osteoporosis treatment, National Science Foundation)