Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “upcycle” come from?

upcycle (English) comes from English cycle, from Catalan cicle, from Latin cyclus, from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

upcycle (English): To convert into new materials or products of...

Definitions

  1. To convert into new materials or products of...

Ancestry of “upcycle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcycleAn interval of space or time in which one set of...
2Catalanciclecycle
3Latincyclusa circle; a cycle, recurring period; a branding...
4Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “upcycle”

  • upcycling
  • upcycled
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →