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
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, 25 Nov. 2024
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
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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Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Epicycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicycle. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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