epicycle
noun
epi·cy·cle
ˈe-pə-ˌsī-kəl 
1
in Ptolemaic astronomy
: a circle in which a planet moves and which has a center that is itself carried around at the same time on the circumference of a larger circle
2
: a process going on within a larger one
Examples of epicycle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Amid these complications, Tomas proves to be a spontaneous provocateur, producing further epicycles of enmity and turmoil.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2023
In order to reconcile circular orbits with actual planetary behavior, Copernicus continued the tradition, developed by Ptolemy, of arguing that planets spin on wheels, known as epicycles.
—National Geographic, 9 Apr. 2019
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Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2023
In order to reconcile circular orbits with actual planetary behavior, Copernicus continued the tradition, developed by Ptolemy, of arguing that planets spin on wheels, known as epicycles.
—National Geographic, 9 Apr. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near epicycle
Cite this Entry
“Epicycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicycle. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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epicycle
noun
epi·cy·cle
ˈep-ə-ˌsī-kəl
: a circle according to an early astronomy theory in which a planet moves and which has a center that is itself carried around at the same time on the circumference of a larger circle
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