/ Dictionary / Index R Rankine cycle: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: Ran'kine cy"cle Pronunciation: [key] — Thermodynam. Thermodynam. the hypothetical cycle of a steam engine in which all heat transfers take place at constant pressure and in which expansion and compression occur adiabatically. Also called Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. Rankine ranking Related Content Daily Word Quiz: clairvoyant Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language