cycle

The definition of a cycle is a period of time or complete set of events that repeat.

(noun)

An example of a cycle is the earth's rotation around the sun.

Cycle is defined as to ride a motorcycle or bicycle.

(verb)

An example of to cycle is riding a bike to work.

See cycle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a recurring period of a definite number of years, used as a measure of time
a period of time within which a round of regularly recurring events or phenomena is completed: the business cycle
a complete set of events or phenomena recurring in the same sequence
a very long period of time; an age
all of the traditional or legendary poems, songs, etc. connected with a hero or an event: the Charlemagne cycle
a series of poems or songs on the same theme
a bicycle, tricycle, or motorcycle
Astron., Archaic the orbit of a celestial body
Biol. a recurring series of functional changes or events
Elec. one complete period of the reversal of an alternating current from positive to negative and back again

Origin: ME cicle < LL cyclus < Gr kyklos, a circle, cycle: see wheel

intransitive verb cycled, cycling

See cycle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

cy·cle

noun

An interval of time during which a characteristic, often regularly repeated event or sequence of events occurs: Sunspots increase and decrease in intensity in an 11-year cycle.
a. A single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon: A year constitutes a cycle of the seasons.
b. A periodically repeated sequence of events: the cycle of birth, growth, and death; a cycle of reprisal and retaliation.
The orbit of a celestial body.
A long period of time; an age.
a. The aggregate of traditional poems or stories organized around a central theme or hero: the Arthurian cycle.
b. A series of poems or songs on the same theme: Schubert's song cycles.
A bicycle, motorcycle, or similar vehicle.
Botany A circular or whorled arrangement of flower parts such as those of petals or sepals.
Linguistics In generative grammar, the principle that allows an ordered set of linguistic rules or operations to apply repeatedly to successive stages of a derivation. Often used with the.