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1. (n.) epicycle
a circle whose center moves around in the circumference of a larger circle: used in Ptolemaic astronomy to account for irregularities in planetary motion.
2. epicycle
a circle that rolls, externally or internally, without slipping, on another circle, generating an epicycloid or hypocycloid.
Etymology: (1350–1400; ME < MF < LL epicyclus < Gk epíkyklos. See epi -, cycle)
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| Definition of 'epicycle' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) epicycle
a circle that rolls around (inside or outside) another circle; generates an epicycloid or hypocycloid
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| Definition of 'epicycle' |
Webster Dictionary |
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1. (noun) epicycle
a circle, whose center moves round in the circumference of a greater circle; or a small circle, whose center, being fixed in the deferent of a planet, is carried along with the deferent, and yet, by its own peculiar motion, carries the body of the planet fastened to it round its proper center
2. (noun) epicycle
a circle which rolls on the circumference of another circle, either externally or internally
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| Definitions of 'epicycle' |
The Nuttall Encyclopedia |
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1. epicycle
an expression used in the Ptolemaic (q. v.) system of astronomy; the old belief that the celestial bodies moved in perfect circles round the earth was found to be inadequate to explain the varying position of the planets, a difficulty which led Ptolemy to invent his theory of epicycles, which was to the effect that each planet revolved round a centre of its own, greater or less, but that all these centres themselves moved in procession round the earth, a theory which fell to pieces before the investigations of Kepler and Newton.
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Definitions of epicycle 
