cycle

Definitions

The Greek branch of the family: from kyklos 'wheel, circle.' A cycle is one full turn of the wheel that then repeats — hence a wash cycle, a life cycle, an economic cycle. The 'wheel' sense also gives the vehicle meaning (a cycle = a bicycle) and the verb 'to cycle' (to ride one).

Why It Means This

cycle is the headword of the Greek cycl- branch, the cousin of Latin circ-. The picture is a wheel: it turns once, comes back to where it started, and turns again. From that single image English built two families — one about repetition (cycle, recycle, cyclical, cyclone) and one about wheeled vehicles (bicycle, tricycle, unicycle). Whenever you see cycl-, picture a wheel going round.

Common Collocations

• 1.life cycle生命周期
• 2.vicious cycle恶性循环
• 3.business cycle商业周期
• 4.wash cycle洗涤程序

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Water moves through the natural cycle of evaporation and rain.

• 2.

  The washing machine has a quick cycle for light loads.

• 3.

  He cycles to work every morning.

• 4.

  The economy moves in cycles of growth and recession.