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periodic
/pɪˈrɪɒdɪk/
occurring at regular intervals
The company conducts periodic reviews of its policies.
The company checks its policies at regular intervals.
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
Related Phrases
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
suffixEnglish Dictionary