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Cycle - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Cycle : (noun)
1: an interval during which a recurring sequence of events
occurs; "the neverending cycle of the seasons" [syn: rhythm,
round]
2: a series of poems or songs on the same theme; "schubert's
song cycles"
3: a periodically repeated sequence of events; "a cycle of
reprisal and retaliation"
4: the unit of frequency; one Hertz has a periodic interval of
one second [syn: Hertz, Hz, cycle per second, cycles/second,
cps]
5: a single complete execution of a periodically repeated
phenomenon; "a year constitutes a cycle of the seasons"
[syn: oscillation]
6: a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot
pedals [syn: bicycle, bike, wheel]
(verb)
1: cause to go through a recurring sequence; "cycle thge
laundry in this washing program"
2: pass through a cycle; "This machine automatically cycles"
3: ride a motorcycle [syn: motorcycle]
4: ride a bicycle [syn: bicycle, bike, pedal, wheel]
5: recur in repeating sequences
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Cycle : \Cy"cle\, n.
(a) (Thermodynamics) A series of operations in which heat is
imparted to (or taken away from) a working substance
which by its expansion gives up a part of its internal
energy in the form of mechanical work (or being
compressed increases its internal energy) and is again
brought back to its original state.
(b) (Elec.) A complete positive and negative wave of an
alternating current; one period. The number of cycles
(per second) is a measure of the frequency of an
alternating current.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Cycle : \Cy"cle\ (s?"k'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cycled. (-k'ld);
p. pr. & vb. n. Cycling (-kl?ng).]
1. To pass through a cycle of changes; to recur in cycles.
--Tennyson. Darwin.
2. To ride a bicycle, tricycle, or other form of cycle.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Cycle : \Cy"cle\ (s?"k'l), n. [F. ycle, LL. cyclus, fr. Gr.
ky`klos ring or circle, cycle; akin to Skr. cakra wheel,
circle. See Wheel.]
1. An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the
celestial spheres. --Milton.
2. An interval of time in which a certain succession of
events or phenomena is completed, and then returns again
and again, uniformly and continually in the same order; a
periodical space of time marked by the recurrence of
something peculiar; as, the cycle of the seasons, or of
the year.
Wages . . . bear a full proportion . . . to the
medium of provision during the last bad cycle of
twenty years. --Burke.
3. An age; a long period of time.
Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay.
--Tennyson.
4. An orderly list for a given time; a calendar. [Obs.]
We . . . present our gardeners with a complete cycle
of what is requisite to be done throughout every
month of the year. --Evelyn.
5. The circle of subjects connected with the exploits of the
hero or heroes of some particular period which have served
as a popular theme for poetry, as the legend of Arthur and
the knights of the Round Table, and that of Charlemagne
and his paladins.
6. (Bot.) One entire round in a circle or a spire; as, a
cycle or set of leaves. --Gray.
7. A bicycle or tricycle, or other light velocipede.
Calippic cycle, a period of 76 years, or four Metonic
cycles; -- so called from Calippus, who proposed it as an
improvement on the Metonic cycle.
Cycle of eclipses, a period of about 6,586 days, the time
of revolution of the moon's node; -- called Saros by the
Chaldeans.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Cycle :
A basic unit of computation, one period of a computer
clock.
Each instruction takes a number of clock cycles. Often the
computer can access its memory once on every clock cycle, and
so one speaks also of "memory cycles".
Every hacker wants more cycles (noted hacker Bill Gosper
describes himself as a "cycle junkie"). There are only so
many cycles per second, and when you are sharing a computer
the cycles get divided up among the users. The more cycles
the computer spends working on your program rather than
someone else's, the faster your program will run. That's why
every hacker wants more cycles: so he can spend less time
waiting for the computer to respond.
The use of the term "cycle" for a computer clock period can
probably be traced back to the rotation of a generator
generating alternating current though computers generally use
a clock signal which is more like a square wave.
Interestingly, the earliest mechanical calculators,
e.g. Babbage's Difference Engine, really did have parts
which rotated in true cycles.
[{Jargon File]
(1997-09-30)
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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Cycle : 1. n. The basic unit of computation. What every hacker wants more
of (noted hacker Bill Gosper described himself as a "cycle junkie"). One
can describe an instruction as taking so many `clock cycles'. Often the
computer can access its memory once on every clock cycle, and so one
speaks also of `memory cycles'. These are technical meanings of cycle.
The jargon meaning comes from the observation that there are only so
many cycles per second, and when you are sharing a computer the cycles
get divided up among the users. The more cycles the computer spends
working on your program rather than someone else's, the faster your
program will run. That's why every hacker wants more cycles: so he can
spend less time waiting for the computer to respond. 2. By extension, a
notional unit of _human_ thought power, emphasizing that lots of things
compete for the typical hacker's think time. "I refused to get involved
with the Rubik's Cube back when it was big. Knew I'd burn too many
cycles on it if I let myself." 3. vt. Syn. bounce (sense 4), 120
reset; from the phrase `cycle power'. "Cycle the machine again, that
serial port's still hung."
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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Example Usage of Cycle |
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GordonHughes: Keep tapping the torus icons in the toolbar in magic donut to increase complexity, Cycle colours. |
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BrownhillsBob: @CIPayneWMPolice As a cyclist, I'm very concerned about the lack of skills of some Cycle PCSO's in Walsall. Who is best to contact about it? |
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sandoval_992: @espillar0965 COFFEE!!! Haha, this seems to be a Cycle Emily. Now I want some. ;) |
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