| 释义 |
cy·cle
I. \ˈsīkəl, in sense 6 “ or ˈsik-\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French cycle, from Late Latin cyclus, from Greek kyklos ring, circle, cycle, wheel — more at wheel
1. : an interval of time during which one sequence of a regularly recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed: as
a. : a recurrent period of time that is used as a basis of chronology usually beginning and ending by occurrence of the same natural phenomenon (as the passage of a comet)
b. : a period of time during which something becomes established, reaches a peak, and declines
< the early mining cycles of gold and silver in the west >
2.
a. : a recurrent sequence of events which occur in such order that the last event of one sequence immediately precedes the recurrence of the first event in a new series — compare life cycle
b. : a complete course of operations or events returning upon itself and restoring the original state
< the common cycle of birth, growth, senescence, and death — T.C.Schneirla & Gerard Piel >
< the sporogonic cycle of the malaria mosquito >
c.
(1) : one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process
(2) : cycles per second — compare hertz
d. : a series of operations at the end of which a working substance is returned to its original state usually with accompanying conversion of heat into mechanical work or vice versa
e. : the sequence of activities repeated in each performance of an operation or task — used chiefly in connection with time and motion studies
f. : business cycle
g. : a series of changes usually but not necessarily leading back to the starting point
< the cycle of nitrogen in the living world >
< the geochemical cycle of an element passing through various processes which may lead to repetition >
h. : a regular periodic fluctuation in the abundance of certain kinds of animals
3. : a circular or spiral arrangement: as
a.
(1) : an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens
(2) : celestial sphere
b.
(1) in phyllotaxy : a section or turn of the spiral between one member and the next immediately over or below it
(2) : a whorl of floral leaves
c. : ring 22
d. : a set of septa or tentacles of like age in a coral or sea anemone
e. : a set of regularly recurring values of a periodic variable
4. : a long period of time : age
< better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay — Alfred Tennyson >
5.
a. : a group of series of works (as poems, plays, novels, or songs) treating the same theme
< a sonnet cycle >
b. : the complete series of poetic or prose narratives dealing typically with the exploits of a legendary hero and his followers
< the Arthurian cycle >
6. [by shortening]
a. : bicycle
b. : tricycle
c. : motorcycle
7. : the series of a single, double, triple, and home run hit by one player during one baseball game
< hit for the cycle >
II. \ˈsīkəl, in sense 2 “ or ˈsik-\ verb
(cycled ; cycled ; cycling \-k(ə)liŋ\ ; cycles)
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to pass through a cycle of changes
< the machine automatically cycles — Industrial Equipment News >
b. : to recur in cycles
< prosperity goes cycling on from generation to generation >
2. : to ride a cycle (as a bicycle)
transitive verb
: to cause to go through a cycle
III. noun
: a permutation of a set of ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the next and the last becomes first
IV. intransitive verb
: to undergo the estrous cycle
< the mare has begun cycling > |