cycle

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cicle, from Late Latin cyclus, from Greek kyklos circle, wheel, cycle — more at wheel Date: 14th century 1. an interval of time during which a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed <

a 4-year cycle of growth and development

> 2. a. a course or series of events or operations that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting point b. one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process c. a permutation of a set of ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the next and the last becomes first d. a takeoff and landing of an airplane 3. a circular or spiral arrangement: as a. an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens b. ring 10 4. a long period of time ; age 5. a. a group of creative works (as poems, plays, or songs) treating the same theme b. a series of narratives dealing typically with the exploits of a legendary hero <

the Arthurian cycle

> 6. a. bicycle b. tricycle c. motorcycle 7. the series of a single, double, triple, and home run hit in any order by one player during one baseball game II. verb (cycled; cycling) Date: 1842 intransitive verb 1. a. to pass through a cycle b. to recur in cycles 2. to ride a cycle; specifically bicycle transitive verb to cause to go through a cycle • cycler noun