What is a “life cycle”?

Life cycle means the all of the events which occurs during an individual’s or a product’s lifetime in a process. For instance , in the life cycle of a plant, seeds are dropped in the ground; soil, water, and compost help the plants grow; the plants drop seeds; the plants die and become compost; new seeds grow into new plants. So the cycle is completed. A product life cycle is similar. A simple life cycle could be considered into five phases :embryonic, executive management acceptance, live management acceptance, growth and maturity.

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/quest/gloss1a.htm#lI