cycle
     n 1: an interval during which a recurring sequence of events
          occurs; "the neverending cycle of the seasons" [syn: {rhythm},
           {round}]
     2: a series of poems or songs on the same theme; "schubert's
        song cycles"
     3: a periodically repeated sequence of events; "a cycle of
        reprisal and retaliation"
     4: the unit of frequency; one Hertz has a periodic interval of
        one second [syn: {Hertz}, {Hz}, {cycle per second}, {cycles/second},
         {cps}]
     5: a single complete execution of a periodically repeated
        phenomenon; "a year constitutes a cycle of the seasons"
        [syn: {oscillation}]
     6: a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot
        pedals [syn: {bicycle}, {bike}, {wheel}]
     v 1: cause to go through a recurring sequence; "cycle thge
          laundry in this washing program"
     2: pass through a cycle; "This machine automatically cycles"
     3: ride a motorcycle [syn: {motorcycle}]
     4: ride a bicycle [syn: {bicycle}, {bike}, {pedal}, {wheel}]
     5: recur in repeating sequences
Source: WordNet® 2.0

cycle 1. n. The basic unit of computation. What every hacker wants more
   of (noted hacker Bill Gosper described himself as a "cycle junkie"). One
   can describe an instruction as taking so many `clock cycles'. Often the
   computer can access its memory once on every clock cycle, and so one
   speaks also of `memory cycles'. These are technical meanings of {cycle}.
   The jargon meaning comes from the observation that there are only so
   many cycles per second, and when you are sharing a computer the cycles
   get divided up among the users. The more cycles the computer spends
   working on your program rather than someone else's, the faster your
   program will run. That's why every hacker wants more cycles: so he can
   spend less time waiting for the computer to respond. 2. By extension, a
   notional unit of _human_ thought power, emphasizing that lots of things
   compete for the typical hacker's think time. "I refused to get involved
   with the Rubik's Cube back when it was big. Knew I'd burn too many
   cycles on it if I let myself." 3. vt. Syn. {bounce} (sense 4), {120
   reset}; from the phrase `cycle power'. "Cycle the machine again, that
   serial port's still hung."


Source: The Jargon File