< Back
life cycle
Definition
A life cycle is the different stages that a living thing goes through from birth to death. All living things have a life cycle, including plants, animals, and humans. The stages of a life cycle can vary depending on the organism, but some common stages include birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
For example, the life cycle of a butterfly starts with an egg. The egg hatches into a caterpillar, which eats and grows. The caterpillar then turns into a chrysalis, where it undergoes a major transformation. The chrysalis eventually opens, and a butterfly emerges. The butterfly flies around, mates, and lays eggs. The eggs hatch into caterpillars, and the cycle begins again.
How can the word be used?
The life cycle of a butterfly begins with the egg.
Different forms of the word
Noun: Life cycle is the stages that an organism goes through from birth to death. It includes the stages of growth, reproduction, and death.
Adjective: Life-cycle is an adjective that describes something that relates to the life cycle of an organism. For example, a life-cycle diagram is a diagram that shows the stages of the life cycle of an organism.
Verb: To life-cycle is to go through the stages of the life cycle. For example, a plant life-cycles through the stages of germination, growth, flowering, and reproduction.
Etymology
The word "life cycle" comes from the Old English words "life" and "cicle", which mean "course of events". It was first used in English in the 14th century.
The Old English word "life" comes from the Proto-Germanic word *leif, which also means "life".
The Old English word "cicle" comes from the Proto-Germanic word *kīkilaz, which also means "course of events".
So, the word "life cycle" literally means "course of events of life".
Question
What is a life cycle?