acyclic

IPA/ˌeɪˈsaɪklɪk/
IPA/ˌeɪˈsaɪklɪk/

acyclic — adjective

  • acyclicpositive
  • more acycliccomparative
  • most acyclicsuperlative

1. not happening in a regular loop, and not arranged so that a path returns to wher

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

not happening in a regular loop, and not arranged so that a path returns to where it began

Example

In the diagram, the arrows form an acyclic graph with no route back.

collocation: acyclic graph + no route back

The software checks that the task list stays acyclic before starting the build.

Common collocations
  • acyclic graph
  • acyclic workflow
  • acyclic dependency
  • acyclic model
Synonyms
  • noncyclic

    almost identical in meaning, but slightly less common in general technical prose

  • linear

    emphasizes movement in one direction, though it is broader and not always a strict technical equivalent

Antonyms
  • cyclic

    describes something that repeats in a loop or returns to an earlier point

Grammar Patterns

acyclic + graph / model / workflow / dependency

Usage Note

Most often used in technical writing about graphs, systems, or processes. It contrasts with anything that loops back to an earlier point.

Common Mistakes

The bus timetable is acyclic because it changes every day.
The bus timetable is irregular because it changes every day.
'acyclic' means there is no loop or return path, not simply that something is hard to predict.

2. used in chemistry to describe a compound whose atoms stay in a chain instead of

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

used in chemistry to describe a compound whose atoms stay in a chain instead of joining to make a ring

Example

This solvent is acyclic, so its carbon chain never closes into a ring.

contrast: chain structure vs ring

Arjun compared the acyclic molecule with a ring-shaped one in class.

Common collocations
  • acyclic compound
  • acyclic molecule
  • acyclic alcohol
  • acyclic structure
Synonyms
  • open-chain

    the closest technical equivalent, highlighting that the atoms remain in a chain

  • noncyclic

    a broader technical synonym that also means lacking a ring structure

Antonyms
  • cyclic

    describes a compound whose atoms join to form one or more rings

  • ring-shaped

    an explanatory everyday phrase rather than a strict technical label

Grammar Patterns

acyclic + compound / molecule / alcohol / structure

Usage Note

Used mainly in chemistry. Writers often contrast it with ring-shaped or cyclic compounds, and 'open-chain' is a close technical paraphrase.

Common Mistakes

Benzene is an acyclic compound.
Hexane is an acyclic compound.
Benzene has a closed ring of atoms, so it is cyclic rather than acyclic.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

'Acyclic' is the formal label for something that does not loop back on itself. In chemistry, it is often close in meaning to 'open-chain', which specifically highlights atoms linked in a chain rather than a ring. 'Noncyclic' is a near-synonym that appears in technical writing, while 'cyclic' is the direct opposite and means the structure forms a ring or repeating loop.

cyclic ↗open-chain ↗noncyclic

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • acyclic graph
  • acyclic compound
  • acyclic workflow

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Built from the negative prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'cyclic', which comes from the idea of a circle or loop. The literal sense is 'without a circle or loop', which fits both the graph sense and the chemistry sense.