cycles/second

4.0

A unit that measures how many times something repeats each second

noun
/ˈsaɪkəlz ˈsɛkənd/

Specialized

: ciclos por segundo

The specification lists the signal frequency as 60 cycles/second.

Examples

A wave oscillates at 60 cycles/second.
Early radios were tuned to specific frequencies measured in cycles/second.
The clock in this computer runs at 3 million cycles/second.
The sound frequency is measured in cycles/second.
The clock in this computer runs at 3 million cycles/second.
The specification lists the signal frequency as 60 cycles/second.
Early radios were tuned to specific frequencies measured in cycles/second.

Synonyms

cps

vscycles/second

Archaic

19 8.0

A measure of frequency equal to one hertz

is the current standard form and not the outdated abbreviation

vscycles/second

Specialized

7 3.7

A measure of how many times something repeats each second

is the worded or phrase form rather than the short symbol

hertz

vscycles/second

Specialized

5 4.8

A unit for measuring how many times a sound or light wave repeats each second

is the same unit but often written as a phrase or symbol instead

cycle per second

vscycles/second

Archaic

2 4.1

A unit for frequency equal to one complete cycle in one second

is the standard named form often used interchangeably in science

How Often

megahertz

Specialized

9 3.7

kilohertz

Specialized

1 3.7

cycles/second

Specialized

4.0

Surface Forms

cycles/second singular

cycles/seconds plural

Morphology

cycles/second = cycle + second (transparent) = cycle + second

The unit is a straightforward combination meaning 'number of cycles per second' and is immediately interpretable from its components.

Etymology

Cycles/second is a literal phrase: it counts how many complete cycles, a 'full turn' or 'wave', happen in one second, which is 'one tick of time'. So it directly measures how often something repeats each second and is the same as one hertz.