They both use cycles. They are trying to "gobbledygook" you.

"The first step of RT-PCR is the synthesis of a DNA/RNA hybrid. [...] The efficiency of the first-strand reaction can affect the amplification process. From here on, the standard PCR procedure is used to amplify the cDNA." https://www.enzolifesciences.com/science-center/technotes/2017/march/what-are-the-differences-between-pcr-rt-pcr-qpcr-and-rt-qpcr?/

"The Ct value is defined as the number of cycles of amplification (using rRT-PCR) required for the fluorescence of a PCR product (i.e. the target/amplicon) to be detected crossing a threshold, which is above the background signal (a low level signal that is present in the assay regardless of whether target is present). When rRT-PCR is performed, a predetermined number of cycles (rounds) of amplification of target (e.g. SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid occur. If target is present in the specimen then each round of amplification results in a doubling of the amount of target present. As a result, amplification occurs exponentially, producing an exponential curve of amplification" https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/main/2020/09/cycle-threshold-values-sars-cov2-pcr.pdf?la=en&sc_lang=en&hash=A11E2007A9FA1383556DEF1DBF0F68AB