Cycloid
(Cy"cloid) n. [Cyclo- + -oid: cf. F. cycloïde.] (Geom.) A curve generated by a point in the
plane of a circle when the circle is rolled along a straight line, keeping always in the same plane.
The common cycloid is the curve described when the generating point (p) is on the circumference of
the generating circle; the curtate cycloid, when that point lies without the circumference; the prolate or
inflected cycloid, when the generating point (p) lies within that circumference.
Cycloid
(Cy"cloid), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Cycloidei.
Cycloid scale (Zoöl.),
a fish scale which is thin and shows concentric lines of growth, without serrations
on the margin.
Cycloid
(Cy"cloid), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Cycloidei.
Cycloidal
(Cy*cloid"al) a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a cycloid; as, the cycloidal space is the space
contained between a cycloid and its base.
Cycloidal engine.
See Geometric lathe.
Cycloidei
(||Cy*cloi"de*i) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ky`klos circle + - oid.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes, formerly
proposed by Agassiz, for those with thin, smooth scales, destitute of marginal spines, as the herring and
salmon. The group is now regarded as artificial.
Cycloidian
(Cy*cloid"i*an) a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as 2d and 3d Cycloid.
Cyclometer
(Cy*clom"e*ter) n. [Cyclo- + -meter.] A contrivance for recording the revolutions of a wheel,
as of a bicycle.
Cyclometry
(Cy*clom"e*try) n. [Cyclo- + -metry: cf. F. cyclométrie.] (Geom.) The art of measuring
circles.
Cyclone
(Cy"clone) n. [Gr. moving in a circle, p. pr. of fr. ky`klos circle.] (Meteor.) A violent storm,
often of vast extent, characterized by high winds rotating about a calm center of low atmospheric pressure.
This center moves onward, often with a velocity of twenty or thirty miles an hour.
The atmospheric disturbance usually accompanying a cyclone, marked by an onward moving area of
high pressure, is called an anticyclone.
Cyclonic
(Cy*clon"ic) a. Pertaining to a cyclone.
Cyclop
(Cy"clop) n. See Note under Cyclops, 1.
Cyclopean
(Cy`clo*pe"an) a. [L. Cyclopeus, Gr. fr. Cyclops: cf. F. cyclopeen.] Pertaining to the Cyclops; characteristic
of the Cyclops; huge; gigantic; vast and rough; massive; as, Cyclopean labors; Cyclopean architecture.
Cyclopedia
(Cy`clo*pe"di*a Cy`clo*pæ"di*a) n. [NL., from Gr. ky`klos circle + paidei`a the bringing up
of a child, education, erudition, fr. paidey`ein to bring up a child. See Cycle, and cf. Encyclopedia,
Pedagogue.] The circle or compass of the arts and sciences (originally, of the seven so-called liberal
arts and sciences); circle of human knowledge. Hence, a work containing, in alphabetical order, information
in all departments of knowledge, or on a particular department or branch; as, a cyclopedia of the physical
sciences, or of mechanics. See Encyclopedia.
Cyclopedic
(Cy`clo*ped"ic) a. Belonging to the circle of the sciences, or to a cyclopedia; of the nature of
a cyclopedia; hence, of great range, extent, or amount; as, a man of cyclopedic knowledge.
Cyclopedist
(Cy`clo*pe"dist) n. A maker of, or writer for, a cyclopedia.