bicyclic

[ bahy-sahy-klik, -sik-lik ]

adjective

1. consisting of or having two cycles or circles.
2. Botany. in two whorls, as the stamens of a flower.
3. pertaining to or resembling a bicycle.

bicyclic

/ baɪˈsaɪklɪk; -ˈsɪklɪk /

adjective

1. of, forming, or formed by two circles, cycles, etc
2. (of stamens, petals, etc) arranged in two whorls
3. (of a chemical compound) having atoms arranged in two rings fused together with at least two atoms common to each ring

   naphthalene is bicyclic

bicyclic

/ bī-sī′klĭk,-sĭk′lĭk /

1. Relating to a compound having two closed rings. Naphthalene is a bicyclic compound.
2. Composed of or arranged in two distinct whorls, as the petals of a flower.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicyclic¹

First recorded in 1875–80; bi- ¹ + cyclic

Example Sentences

The bicyclic β-lactam/2-pyrrolidine precursor to all carbapenem antibiotics is biosynthesized by attachment of a carboxymethylene unit to C5 of -proline followed by β-lactam ring closure.

From Science Magazine

The structures of receptors highlight those regions that are unique to particular receptor subtypes, which may facilitate more rational developments of subtype-specific drugs, either using traditional small molecule chemistry or innovative approaches such as bicyclic or linear peptides.

From Nature