periodic

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Periodic is an adjective only, and although once largely restricted to technical and scientific contexts (e.g. periodic decimal, periodic function, and periodic table), it has become commoner in non-technical usage as well and is generally preferred to periodical in the meaning 'appearing or occurring at regular intervals'

(Smoke detectors require periodic checks to ensure that they are working properly—British Medical Journal, 2002).

Periodical is also used in this sense, however, and unlike periodic is used as a noun with the particular meaning 'a newspaper or magazine issued at regular intervals'.

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adjective

1. Happening or appearing at regular intervals: cyclic, cyclical, isochronal, isochronous, periodical, recurrent. Idioms: like clockwork. See repetition.
2. Happening or appearing now and then: fitful, intermittent, occasional, periodical, sporadic. Informal on-again, off-again. See continue/stop/pause.

adj

Definition: at fixed intervals
Antonyms: constant, continual, irregular, lasting, permanent, sporadic, variable

1. of, relating to, or resembling a period (def. 1 or 2); happening or occurring in periods; intermittent; cyclical.
2. (in chemistry) denoting any of several oxoacids of iodine containing a greater proportion of oxygen than iodic acid. See per+ (def. 2a), periodic acid.

—periodically adv.

Previous:	periodate oxidation, periodate, period
Next:	periodic acid, periodic acid-Schiff reaction, periodic law

Repeated or recurring at intervals.

• p. acid–Schiff stain (PAS) — periodic acid followed by Schiff reagent stains polysaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipids. It is used to demonstrate fungal elements.
• p. breathing — alternating periods of apnea and hyperventilation. See also biot's respirations, cheyne–stokes respiration.
• inherited p. spasticity — a defect in cattle which does not appear until they are adults. On rising from a recumbent position the hindlimbs are extended and the animal is unable to flex them. Spasticity may last for 15 minutes but the patient will eventually relax and walk normally. Causes inconvenience only. Called also stall-cramp, the stretches.
• p. movement — see cyclical.
• p. myelodysplasia — see canine cyclic hematopoiesis.
• p. ophthalmia — see periodic ophthalmia.
• p. reassessment — re-examination at intervals of registered veterinarians to ensure their continued educational refreshment. Adequate performance obligatory for reregistration.

See words rhyming with "periodic."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Periodic.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - periodisk

idioms:

• periodic table    periodisk tabel

Nederlands (Dutch)
regelmatig terugkerend/ plaatsvindend, periodisch (sterren), retorisch

Français (French)
adj. - périodique

idioms:

• periodic table    classification périodique

Deutsch (German)
adj. - periodisch

idioms:

• periodic table    (Chem.) Periodensystem

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - περιοδικός

idioms:

• periodic table    (χημ.) περιοδικός πίνακας (στοιχείων)

Italiano (Italian)
periodico

idioms:

• periodic table    tavola periodica

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - periódico

idioms:

• periodic table    tabela periódica (Quím.)

Русский (Russian)
периодический

idioms:

• periodic table    периодическая таблица Менделеева

Español (Spanish)
adj. - periódico

idioms:

• periodic table    tabla periódica

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - periodisk(t återkommande)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
周期的, 定期的

idioms:

• periodic table    周期表

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 周期的, 定期的

idioms:

• periodic table    週期表

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 시대의, 주기적인, 간헐적인

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 周期的な, 定期的な, 断続的な

idioms:

• periodic table    周期表

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) دوري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮תקופתי, עונתי, עיתי, מחזורי‬

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