aperiodicadj.
/ˌeɪpɪərɪˈɒdɪk/, U.S. /ˌeɪˌpɪriˈɑdɪk/ Not periodic; without regular recurrence. In various technical senses (see quots.); spec. of a galvanometer, without periodic vibrations, ‘dead-beat’.
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the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adjective] > intermittent or irregular
chopping1483
wavering1488
interpolate1547
suspensive1575
off and on1583
remitting1583
intermissive1586
fluttering1590
aguisha1602
intermittent1603
irregular1608
broken1629
intermitting1643
serratile1707
serrine1707
scattering1709
serratic1753
now-and-then1762
remittent1791
fitful1810
non-periodic1836
spasmodic1837
startful1837
interlusory1853
heterochronic1854
heterochronous1854
between-whiles1859
snatchy1861
sporadic1861
spasmodical1864
catchy1869
pauseful1877
aperiodic1879
scratchy1881
nervy1884
spurty1894
off-again on-again1923
on-again off-again1946
on-off1949
1879 Encycl. Brit. X. 50/2 An intermediate stage called the aperiodic state.
1884 F. Krohn tr. G. Glaser de Cew Magneto- & Dynamo-electr. Machines 228 The commutator am-meter is an aperiodic galvanometer.
1894 W. L. Dallas in Indian Meteorol. Mem. 6 2 The annual periodic changes and the aperiodic changes [are] both very slight.
1930 Engineering 31 Jan. 129/3 Another new instrument shown was an aperiodic balance, in which air damping is provided in order to bring the beam to rest rapidly.
1943 Gloss. Terms Telecomm. (B.S.I.) 68 Aperiodic aerial, an aerial designed to operate over a substantial range of frequencies.
1952 E. Hyams Soil & Civilization i. 7 The man's motions abrupt, aperiodic and angular.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1879