Phrase guide

duty cycle

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The ratio between the amount of time in which the clock's signal is high and the clock's period.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The ratio between the percentage of time when a device is performing its work (duty) and the percentage of time when it is not working (e.g., idling, coasting, or turned off).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: generally

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • motors that are not designed for 80% duty cycles because that was never their appropriate use case

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pulssisuhde — Translations