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Glite Dictionary
quasiperiodic

quasiperiodic

1 9.9
An almost regular pattern that never repeats exactly
  • adjective
  • /ˌkwɑːzɪˈpɪəriədɪk/
  • Specialized
: cuasiperiódico
  • In nature, quasiperiodic sequences can be seen in the arrangement of certain shells and flowers.

Examples

  • The pattern of the quasiperiodic lattice made it difficult to predict its behavior in different conditions.

  • Atomic structure consists of periodic stacking of quasiperiodic planes along the column axis.

    Academic text (1990)

  • (a) Generic trajectories in a circular billiard are quasiperiodic.

    Academic text (2005)

  • This quasiperiodic forcing arises from the significant photon and plasma changes that accompany cycles in solar activity, which in turn relate intimately to variations in magnetic flux in the Sun's atmosphere.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The artist used quasiperiodic patterns in his painting to create a sense of rhythm and movement.

How Regular

periodic
45 3.9
quasiperiodic
  • Specialized
1 9.9
irregular
42 3.5

Surface Forms

quasiperiodic positive

Morphology

quasiperiodic = periodic (semi-transparent) = quasi + period + ic

Compositionally clear as 'quasi-' (almost) + 'periodic', but the formal prefix 'quasi-' may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Quasiperiodic comes from quasi ('almost' or 'as if') and periodic (from period, 'a regular cycle'), so picture a clock that looks regular but never ticks the same way twice. So, quasiperiodic describes a pattern that seems regular but does not repeat exactly.