[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

periodic \pe`riod"ic\ p=e`ri^o^d"i^k, periodical
\pe`riod"ical\ p=e`ri^o^d"i^kal, a. l.
   periodicus, gr. periodiko`s: cf. f. p'eriodique.
   1. of or pertaining to a period or periods, or to division by
      periods.
      1913 webster

            the periodical times of all the satellites. --sir j.
                                                  herschel.
      1913 webster

   2. performed in a period, or regular revolution; proceeding
      in a series of successive circuits; as, the periodical
      motion of the planets round the sun.
      1913 webster

   3. happening, by revolution, at a stated time; returning
      regularly, after a certain period of time.
      1913 webster

            the periodic return of a plant's flowering.
                                                  --henslow.
      1913 webster

            to influence opinion through the periodical press.
                                                  --courthope.
      1913 webster

   4. acting, happening, or appearing, at fixed or somewhat
      variable intervals; recurring; as, periodical epidemics
      1913 webster

   5. rhet. of or pertaining to a period; constituting a
      complete sentence.
      1913 webster

   periodic comet astron., a comet that moves about the sun
      in an elliptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of
      its approaches to the sun.

   periodic function math., a function whose values recur at
      fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. the
      trigonomertic functions, as sinx, tanx, etc., are
      periodic functions. exponential functions are also
      periodic, having an imaginary period, and the elliptic
      functions have not only a real but an imaginary period,
      and are hence called doubly periodic.

   periodic law chem., the generalization that the
      properties of the chemical elements are periodic functions
      of their atomic weights. "in other words, if the elements
      are grouped in the order of their atomic weights, it will
      be found that nearly the same properties recur
      periodically throughout the entire series." the following
      tabular arrangement of the atomic weights shows the
      regular recurrence of groups under i., ii., iii., iv.,
      etc., each consisting of members of the same natural
      family. the gaps in the table indicate the probable
      existence of unknown elements.

   periodic table, periodic table of the elements chem., a
      tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, illustrating
      the periodic law, described above.
      1913 webster

   note: note: a modern version of the periodic table can be
         found at: http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/default.htm
         pjc table of the periodic law of the chemical
         elements the vertical columns contain the periodic
         groups series1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         |i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. | rh4 rh3 rh3 rh
         |r2o ro r3o3 ro2 r2o5 ro3 r2o7 ro4
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         h
         1
         li
         7
         na
         23
         k
         39
         cu
         63
         rb
         85.2
         ag
         108
         cs
         133
         -
         -
         au
         197

         ---------------------------------------------------------------
         1913 webster

   note: a similar relation had been enunciated in a crude way
         by newlands; but the law in its effective form was
         developed and elaborated by mendelejeff, whence it is
         sometimes called mendelejeff's law. important
         extensions of it were also made by l. meyer. by this
         means mendelejeff predicted with remarkable accuracy
         the hypothetical elements ekaboron, ekaluminium, and
         ekasilicon, afterwards discovered and named
         respectively scandium, gallium, and germanium.
         1913 webster

   periodic star astron., a variable star whose changes of
      brightness recur at fixed periods.

   periodic time of a heavenly body astron., the time of a
      complete revolution of the body about the sun, or of a
      satellite about its primary.
      1913 webster
see also:
periodic comet periodic function periodic law periodic table periodic table of the elements periodic law 
mendelejeff's law periodic star periodic time of a heavenly body 

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