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periodic

/pɪˈrɪɒdɪk/
adjective★Intermediate
general

occurring or appearing at regular intervals

She takes periodic breaks during her workday.

She takes breaks at regular intervals during her workday.

💡

Often used in contexts like maintenance, reviews, or medical check-ups.

technical

relating to or involving the periodic table of elements

Periodic trends in the table help predict element properties.

Regular patterns in the table help predict how elements behave.

💡

Used in chemistry to describe patterns or trends in the periodic table.

Collocations

periodic tablea chart organizing chemical elements by atomic numberperiodic reviewa scheduled assessment or evaluationperiodic maintenanceregular upkeep or servicing

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

periodic functionphrase
a mathematical function that repeats at regular intervals
periodic motionphrase
movement that repeats at fixed intervals

💡Pro Tip

Chemistry vs. General Use

In chemistry, 'periodic' refers to the periodic table. In everyday language, it means happening at regular intervals.

⚡Gold Rule

Correct Usage

Use 'periodic' for events or actions that repeat at fixed intervals, not for one-time occurrences.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'periodicus', from 'periodus' (a circuit, cycle), from Greek 'periodos' (a going around).

📝Usage Notes

In chemistry, 'periodic' refers to the arrangement of elements in the periodic table. In general use, it describes events happening at fixed intervals.

Word Breakdown

period
a fixed or recurring interval of time
root
+
-ic
relating to
suffix
English Dictionary

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