κύκλος
Lemma: κύκλος
Translation: circle; cycle; ring; round; sphere; orbit (noun)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek κύκλος (kyklos) meaning 'circle, wheel, ring'. This word is the source of numerous English words including 'cycle', 'cyclone', 'bicycle', 'encyclopedia' (literally 'circle of learning'), and 'cyclical'. The root appears in scientific terms like 'cytoplasm' and 'cyclotron'. The word has maintained its core meaning across millennia, making it one of the most stable geometric terms from antiquity to modern Greek.
Example Usage
Σχεδίασε έναν κύκλο στο χαρτί.
Draw a circle on the paper.
Ο κύκλος της ζωής συνεχίζεται.
The cycle of life continues.
Ανήκει σε έναν κύκλο διανοουμένων.
He belongs to a circle of intellectuals.
Ολοκλήρωσε τον κύκλο σπουδών του.
He completed his cycle of studies.
Ο κύκλος των φίλων μου είναι μικρός.
My circle of friends is small.
Mnemonics
- Think 'cycle' - both words share the same Greek root
- Visualize a bicycle wheel - 'cycle' comes from κύκλος
- Remember 'encyclopedia' - a circle of knowledge
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Used in mathematical, scientific, and everyday contexts. Common in Greek education when discussing geometry. Also used metaphorically for social circles, cycles of life, and recurring patterns in Greek literature and philosophy.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: κύκνος means 'swan' - similar spelling but completely different meaning
Confused word:
Ο κύκνος κολυμπά στη λίμνη.
The swan swims in the lake.
Notes: Both are masculine nouns but in completely different semantic fields
Mnemonic: κύκλος = cycle (geometric), κύκνος = swan (animal)