epicycle
A small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circleA small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth.
» The epicycle made it possible for the Greeks to explain the planetary movements.
Meaning
4 sensesA small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth.
Epizykel
эпициклepicikl
епіциклepicykl
Any circle whose circumference rolls around that of another circle, thus creating a hypocycloid or epicycloid.
a circle that rolls around (inside or outside) another circle; generates an epicycloid or hypocycloid
A ring of atoms joining parts of an already cyclic compound
(figuratively)An ad hoc complication added to a model to make it fit the known data
Examples
1 sentencesThe epicycle made it possible for the Greeks to explain the planetary movements.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Latin epicyclus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίκυκλος (epíkuklos), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + κFrom Latin epicyclus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίκυκλος (epíkuklos), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + κύκλος (kúklos, “circle”). The ad hoc complication sense is a generalization from the archetype supplied by the Ptolemaic astronomy sense.
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