noncyclic
Without periodic return
Noncyclic describes something that doesn't repeat in cycles or follow a circular pattern.
In chemistry, a noncyclic compound has an open chain structure rather than a ring.
In biology, noncyclic processes occur once rather than repeating: noncyclic photophosphorylation.
More generally, anything that proceeds linearly without returning to its starting point: a noncyclic narrative structure.
Lacking repeated patterns
- directedGave guidance or orders
- graphVisual data display
- treeWoody perennial plant
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
topological · vertex · node · edge · path · traversal · sorting · dependency
Lacking repeated patterns
- saturatedThoroughly soaked through
- unsaturatedNot fully saturated
- alkaneSaturated hydrocarbon series
- alkeneDoubly-bonded carbon compound
alkyne · hydrocarbon · polymer · methane · ethane · propane · butane · fatty acid
Occurring only once
- one-timeOccurring only once
- unrepeatingNot happening again
- singularOne in number
- uniqueOnly one exists
nonperiodic · irregular · linear · irreversible · unidirectional · finite · terminal · episodic
Successive downward flow
- irreversibleCannot be undone
- metabolicOf bodily chemistry
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- developmentalRelated to growth stages
differentiation · apoptosis · senescence · terminal · unidirectional · sequential · phosphorylation · one-way
acyclic
Lacking repeated patterns
forest · topological · vertex · node · edge · path · traversal · sorting · dependency · hierarchy
acyclic
Lacking repeated patterns
- saturatedThoroughly soaked through
- unsaturatedNot fully saturated
- alkaneSaturated hydrocarbon series
alkene · alkyne · hydrocarbon · polymer · methane · ethane · propane · butane · fatty acid · ester
nonrecurring
Occurring only once
- one-timeOccurring only once
- unrepeatingNot happening again
- singularOne in number
unique · nonperiodic · irregular · linear · irreversible · unidirectional · finite · terminal · episodic · discontinuous
cascade
Successive downward flow
- irreversibleCannot be undone
- metabolicOf bodily chemistry
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
developmental · differentiation · apoptosis · senescence · terminal · unidirectional · sequential · phosphorylation · one-way
noncycliccyclic
Repeating in sequence
periodic · cyclical · recurring · repetitive · repeating
noncycliccircular
Forming a closed curve
rotary · ring-shaped · closed-loop · annular · orbital