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epicycle
epicycle definition
epi·cy·cle (ep′ə sī′kəl)
noun
- a circle whose center moves along the circumference of another, larger circle: term used to describe planetary motions in the Ptolemaic system
- Geom. a circle which generates a hypocycloid or epicycloid by rolling around the circumference of a fixed circle
Etymology: ME epicicle < LL epicyclus < Gr epikyklos < epi-, upon + kyklos, a circle: see cycle
Related Forms:
- epicyclic ep′i·cy′·clic (-sīk′lik) adjective or epicyclical ep′i·cy′·cli·cal
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