recurrent

Everyday

1. Happening again and again, many times: a recurrent dream. tree →
2. (maths, advanced) A recurring decimal repeats forever: 1 ÷ 3 = 0.333… (the usual word is «recurring»). tree →

In the lessons

In stories and health: «recurrent headaches», «a recurrent nightmare». In science, patterns that come back are recurrent. In maths the word «recurring» is more common for decimals that repeat, such as 0.666…; «recurrent» means the same idea of coming back. Phrases: «recurrent problem», «recurrent theme», «recurrent illness».

Examples

• He has a recurrent dream about flying. tree →
• Flooding is a recurrent problem in this town. tree →
• Friendship is a recurrent theme in her books. tree →
• The doctor asked about her recurrent coughs. tree →
• 2 ÷ 3 gives a recurring decimal, 0.666…. tree →
• Recurrent rain ruined our holiday. tree →

Note

Similar: recurring, repeated, frequent. Verb: recur (recurs, recurred — double r). Spelling: re-CUR-rent (double r). In maths, prefer «recurring decimal».