Carnot cycle

noun

Car·​not cycle

(ˈ)kär¦nō-

variants or Carnot's cycle

-ōz-

: an ideal reversible closed thermodynamic cycle in which the working substance goes through the four successive operations of isothermal expansion to a desired point, adiabatic expansion to a desired point, isothermal compression, and adiabatic compression back to its initial state

Word History

Etymology

translation of French cycle de Carnot, after N.L.S. Carnot †1832 French physicist

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!