non-cyclic
non-cyclic — adjective
1. describing something that does not happen again and again in a fixed pattern, bu
describing something that does not happen again and again in a fixed pattern, but only once or in no set order
Sivan's research focused on non-cyclic weather events that struck the island only once each century.
non-cyclic + event noun for one-off occurrences
The accountant explained that the bonus was a non-cyclic payment, not part of the regular monthly salary.
non-cyclic + payment/cost in finance contexts
Hugo argued that the company's losses were non-cyclic and would not return next quarter.
The historian described the famine as a non-cyclic disaster rather than part of a wider pattern.
Nila's team studies non-cyclic changes in the local bird population caused by sudden human activity.
- one-off
informal; emphasises a single occurrence
- irregular
broader; covers any non-fixed pattern
- non-recurring
common in finance and accounting reports
文法句型
non-cyclic + noun
用法筆記
Typically appears before nouns describing events, payments, costs, or changes; rarely used predicatively outside business and scientific writing. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a chemistry term.
常見錯誤
2. in chemistry, describing a molecule whose atoms form an open chain rather than j
in chemistry, describing a molecule whose atoms form an open chain rather than joining up into a closed ring
Cyrus drew a diagram showing how the non-cyclic structure of the molecule allowed extra bonds at each end.
non-cyclic + structure/molecule in chemistry
The chemistry teacher asked Eri to label the non-cyclic compound on the whiteboard.
non-cyclic + compound for open-chain substances
Minh's research paper compared the boiling points of non-cyclic and ring-shaped hydrocarbons.
Élise explained that the non-cyclic version of the molecule reacts more easily with oxygen.
- acyclic
more technical, preferred in academic chemistry
- open-chain
descriptive; common in textbooks
- cyclic
having atoms arranged in a ring
- ring-shaped
plain-English equivalent
文法句型
non-cyclic + chemistry noun
用法筆記
Restricted to chemistry and biochemistry writing. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the general 'not repeating' meaning; this sense always refers to the shape of a molecule's atomic structure.