epicyclic

Variant of epicycle

epicycle definition

epi·cy·cle (ep′ə sī′kəl)

noun

  1. a circle whose center moves along the circumference of another, larger circle: term used to describe planetary motions in the Ptolemaic system
  2. 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:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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