Carnot's cycle

Car`not's´ cy´cle

    (kär`nōz´)

1.

(Thermodynamics) An ideal heat-engine cycle in which the working fluid goes through the following four successive operations: (1) Isothermal expansion to a desired point; (2) adiabatic expansion to a desired point; (3) isothermal compression to such a point that (4) adiabatic compression brings it back to its initial state.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by G. & C. Merriam Co.