(physiology) The cycle associated with the maturation of the oocyte and its discharge from the ovary, from where it passes through the oviduct to the uterus.

(physiology) The repeating physiological changes that are influenced by hormones controlling reproduction in placental mammals other than human beings and greater apes.

plural of cycle rickshaw

A rickshaw, mostly used as taxi, with two wheels in the back for the carriage and one wheel for steering in the front (or sometimes vice versa), propelled by the action of a driver’s feet upon pedals.

The cyclic movement of phosphorus through the biogeochemical environment

plural of cycle path

(idiomatic) To act so as to end a repeating pattern of harmful or otherwise negative behavior.

plural of Metonic cycle

(thermodynamics) The cycle for the air engine proposed by Joule. In it air is taken by a pump from a cold chamber and compressed adiabatically until its pressure is equal to that of the air in a hot chamber, into which it is then delivered, thereby displacing an equal amount of hot air into the engine cylinder. Here it expands adiabatically to the temperature of the cold chamber into which it is finally exhausted. This cycle, reversed, is used in refrigeration.

(thermodynamics) An ideal heat-engine cycle in which the working fluid goes through four successive operations: (1) isothermal expansion to a desired point; (2) adiabatic expansion to a desired point; (3) isothermal compression to such a point that (4) adiabatic compression brings it back to its initial state.