LIFE CYCLE Definition & Meaning

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life cycle

noun

Biology. the continuous sequence of changes undergone by an organism from one primary form, as a gamete, to the development of the same form again.
a series of stages, as childhood and middle age, that characterize the course of existence of an individual, group, or culture.
any similar series of stages:
the life cycle of a manufactured product.

life cycle

noun

the series of changes occurring in an animal or plant between one development stage and the identical stage in the next generation

life cycle

The series of changes in the growth and development of an organism from its beginning as an independent life form to its mature state in which offspring are produced. In simple organisms, such as bacteria, the life cycle begins when an organism is produced by fission and ends when that organism in turn divides into two new ones. In organisms that reproduce sexually, the life cycle may be thought of as beginning with the fusion of reproductive cells to form a new organism. The cycle ends when that organism produces its own reproductive cells, which then begin the cycle again by undergoing fusion with other reproductive cells. The life cycles of plants, algae, and many protists often involve an alternation between a generation of organisms that reproduces sexually and another that reproduces asexually.
See more at alternation of generations

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of life cycle¹

First recorded in 1870–75

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Just like other roller coasters within the theme park industry, there’s a life cycle with these coasters,” Harris told the Register.

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Many of those items, such as furniture and appliances, are typically big-ticket purchases with long life cycles, making rebuying an infrequent occurrence under normal circumstances.

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That is catastrophic in the short-term for these species, but he says that it is a natural part of the life cycle in the region.

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But some say more research is needed to fully understand sex differences in how female and male bodies need and use these nutrients across the life cycle.

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This longer life cycle and shift in activity may be driven in part by cities and their warmer climates.

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