Circle vs. Cycle: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Circle refers to a round, 2D shape where all points are equidistant from the center; cycle denotes a series of events that repeat in a regular sequence.
Key Differences
A circle is a geometric shape, a closed curve where all points are equidistant from a central point. A cycle, on the other hand, is a sequence or series of events that repeat regularly over time or space. Both concepts embody continuity, but in different realms—geometry for the circle, and time or processes for the cycle.
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Nov 18, 2023
The term circle is often used in mathematics to define a specific shape and in everyday language to describe objects with a circular form. Cycle is used to describe processes and sequences in various fields, such as biology (life cycle), economics (business cycle), and mechanics (bicycle). Both terms have extended metaphorical uses, but circle often denotes inclusivity or unity, while cycle implies repetition or a series of stages.
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Nov 18, 2023
In visual representation, a circle is depicted as a round shape, easily identifiable in geometry and art. In contrast, a cycle might be represented as a series of stages in a flowchart or diagram, indicating a progression or a recurring sequence. While a circle is static, a cycle implies motion or progression.
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Nov 18, 2023
Symbolically, a circle often represents unity, wholeness, and infinity, due to its unbroken nature. A cycle symbolizes progression, renewal, and the passage of time, as seen in concepts like the water cycle or the cycle of seasons. Both carry deep meanings but in distinctly different contexts.
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Nov 18, 2023
In practical applications, circles are seen in design, architecture, and everyday objects due to their aesthetic and functional properties. Cycles are crucial in understanding natural processes, mechanical systems, and economic theories, emphasizing the importance of recurring stages or steps.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
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Circle and Cycle Definitions
Circle
A circle is a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point.
The children formed a circle around the campfire.
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Nov 18, 2023
Cycle
In transport, a cycle refers to a bicycle or motorcycle.
She commutes to work on her cycle every day.
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Nov 18, 2023
Circle
Circle can describe a domain or area of interest or activity.
His expertise lies in the circle of quantum physics.
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Nov 18, 2023
Cycle
An interval of time during which a characteristic, often regularly repeated event or sequence of events occurs
Sunspots increase and decrease in intensity in an 11-year cycle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Cycle
A single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon
A year constitutes a cycle of the seasons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A periodically repeated sequence of events
The cycle of birth, growth, and death.
A cycle of reprisal and retaliation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A circular or nearly circular course, circuit, or orbit:a satellite's circle around the earth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
The aggregate of traditional poems or stories organized around a central theme or hero
The Arthurian cycle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A series or process that finishes at its starting point or continuously repeats itself; a cycle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement:well-known in artistic circles.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A territorial or administrative division, especially of a province, in some European countries.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(Botany) A circular or whorled arrangement of flower parts such as those of petals or sepals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(Baseball) The achievement of hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
To use in or put through a cycle
Cycled the heavily soiled laundry twice.
Cycling the recruits through eight weeks of basic training.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(geometry) A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).
The set of all points (x, y) such that {{(x
R2}} is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An interval of space or time in which one set of events or phenomena is completed.
The cycle of the seasons, or of the year
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance (radius) from a given point.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures.
Children, please join hands and form a circle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A process that returns to its beginning and then repeats itself in the same sequence.
Electoral cycle
Menstrual cycle
News cycle
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
Cut a circle out of that sheet of metal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
The crank moves in a circle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(music) In musical set theory, an interval cycle is the set of pitch classes resulting from repeatedly applying the same interval class to the starting pitch class.
The interval cycle C4 consists of the pitch classes 0, 4 and 8; when starting on E, it is realised as the pitches E, G# and C.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.
Inner circle
Circle of friends
Literary circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A series of poems, songs or other works of art, typically longer than a trilogy.
The "Ring of the Nibelung" is a cycle of four operas by Richard Wagner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A programme on a washing machine, dishwasher, or other such device.
Put the washing in on a warm cycle.
The spin cycle
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(cricket) A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A pedal-powered vehicle, such as a unicycle, bicycle, or tricycle, or a motorized vehicle that has either two or three wheels.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(Wicca) A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the air with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(baseball) A single, a double, a triple, and a home run hit by the same player in the same game.
Jones hit for the cycle in the game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(graph theory) A closed walk or path, with or without repeated vertices allowed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(astronomy) An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial spheres.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A territorial division or district.
The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(in the plural) A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.
After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(aviation) One take-off and landing of an aircraft, referring to a pressurisation cycle which places stresses on the fuselage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(transitive) To travel around along a curved path.
The wolves circled the herd of deer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
(transitive) To place or mark a circle around.
Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(electronics) To turn power off and back on
Avoid cycling the device unnecessarily.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
(ice hockey) To maintain a team's possession of the puck in the offensive zone by handling and passing the puck in a loop from the boards near the goal up the side boards and passing to back to the boards near the goal
They have their cycling game going tonight.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called the center.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial spheres.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An age; a long period of time.
Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A round body; a sphere; an orb.
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An orderly list for a given time; a calendar.
We . . . present our gardeners with a complete cycle of what is requisite to be done throughout every month of the year.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set.
As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
One entire round in a circle or a spire; as, a cycle or set of leaves.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
Has he given the lie,In circle, or oblique, or semicircle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A complete positive and negative, or forward and reverse, action of any periodic process, such as a vibration, an electric field oscillation, or a current alternation; one period.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
To encompass, as by a circle; to surround; to inclose; to encircle.
Their heads are circled with a short turban.
So he lies, circled with evil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate.
Thy name shall circle round the gaping through.
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
An interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs;
The neverending cycle of the seasons
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point;
He calculated the circumference of the circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
An unofficial association of people or groups;
The smart set goes there
They were an angry lot
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A periodically repeated sequence of events;
A cycle of reprisal and retaliation
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Something approximating the shape of a circle;
The chairs were arranged in a circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
The unit of frequency; one Hertz has a periodic interval of one second
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Movement once around a course;
He drove an extra lap just for insurance
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon;
A year constitutes a cycle of the seasons
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island;
The accident blocked all traffic at the rotary
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
Cause to go through a recurring sequence;
Cycle thge laundry in this washing program
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
A curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra;
They had excellent seats in the dress circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Any circular or rotating mechanism;
The machine punched out metal circles
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Oct 19, 2023
Circle
Be around;
Developments surround the town
The river encircles the village
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Oct 19, 2023
Cycle
A cycle is a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
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Nov 18, 2023
Cycle
In biology, a cycle refers to a life cycle or reproductive cycle.
The butterfly goes through a fascinating life cycle.
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Nov 18, 2023
Circle
In a social context, a circle refers to a group of people with shared interests or connections.
She has a wide circle of friends from college.
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Nov 18, 2023
Cycle
Cycle can also mean a complete set or series.
The machine completes its cycle in two minutes.
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Nov 18, 2023
Circle
Circle can also denote movement in a round path.
The plane circled the airport before landing.
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Nov 18, 2023
Cycle
In economics, a cycle indicates a sequence of business or economic changes.
The economic cycle affects all industries.
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Nov 18, 2023
Circle
In mathematics, a circle is a locus of points equidistant from a given point.
The equation x² + y² = r² represents a circle in Cartesian coordinates.
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Nov 18, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does cycle mean in general terms?
A cycle refers to a series of events that happen over and over in the same order.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the basic definition of a circle?
A circle is a round shape where every point on the edge is the same distance from the center.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can circle have different meanings in various contexts?
Yes, circle can denote a social group, a movement pattern, or an area of interest.
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Nov 18, 2023
What's an example of a cycle in nature?
The water cycle, involving evaporation and precipitation, is a natural cycle.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the mathematical equation of a circle?
The equation is x² + y² = r², where r is the radius of the circle.
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Nov 18, 2023
Are circles always perfect in shape?
In ideal mathematical terms, yes, but real-world circles can vary.
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Nov 18, 2023
What does life cycle mean?
It's the series of stages in an organism's life from birth to reproduction.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is cycle used only in science?
No, cycle is used in various fields like biology, economics, and even in everyday language.
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Nov 18, 2023
How is cycle used in economics?
It refers to recurring periods of growth and decline, like the business cycle.
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Nov 18, 2023
Does cycle imply motion or change?
Yes, it implies a sequence of changes or movements.
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Nov 18, 2023
What's a business cycle?
It's the fluctuation of economic activity over time.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can a circle symbolize anything?
Yes, it often symbolizes unity, infinity, or completeness.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can circles be used in art?
Yes, circles are a fundamental shape in art and design.
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Nov 18, 2023
Are all circles the same size?
No, circles can vary in size, defined by their radius.
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Nov 18, 2023
Are circles found in nature?
Yes, circles are found in natural forms like planetary orbits and cellular structures.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can cycle refer to a vehicle?
Yes, it's a common term for bicycles and motorcycles.
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Nov 18, 2023
Do circles have a beginning or end?
No, circles are continuous loops without a start or end point.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Can the term cycle be used metaphorically?
Yes, it can describe repetitive patterns in life or processes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is a circle always 2-dimensional?
Yes, by definition, a circle is a 2D shape.
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Nov 18, 2023
Does cycle always mean repetition?
Generally, yes, it implies a repeating sequence.
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Nov 18, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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