Cyclic: meaning, definitions and examples

Describes something that occurs in a cycle or regularly repeats itself in a predictable manner. Often used in scientific or technical contexts.

• The cyclic process of the seasons affects agriculture.
• Cells undergo cyclic growth patterns.

Describes something that happens repeatedly or comes back over time. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• She has a recurring dream about flying.
• Recurring maintenance is essential for the longevity of machinery.

Refers to something that occurs at regular intervals. Often used in formal or scientific contexts.

• The periodic table organizes elements based on their properties.
• The town hall meeting is a periodic event, held every month.

Describes something that involves repeating the same actions or tasks. Often has a negative connotation when referring to boring or monotonous activities.

• The job was very repetitive and soon became tiresome.
• Listening to the same song on repeat can become repetitive.

Used in scientific, technical, or mathematical contexts to describe a repeating or circular pattern.

• The seasons are cyclic in nature, repeating every year
• The mathematician studied cyclic graphs for his paper

Used to describe something that has the shape of a ring, often in everyday contexts or in geometry.

• The cookie cutter was ring-shaped
• Saturn's ring-shaped system is one of its most iconic features

Commonly used in chemistry to describe a molecule where the atoms form a ring or a loop. It's also used in biomechanics and robotics.

• Benzene is an example of a closed-chain molecule
• The robot's closed-chain kinematics made its movements more stable

Informal or general context, often used to refer to something that forms a loop or repeatedly cycles back to the beginning.

• The video was looped to play continuously
• She looped the ribbon around the gift