season
/ˈsiːz(ə)n
/noun
1Each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the earth’s changing position with regard to the sun.Now most places in the world you have four seasons; winter, spring, summer, fall but not so in Barbados....
- When I think of Earth, I think of the variety of the land we have and how it relates to the four major seasons, winter, spring, summer and autumn.
- The following table provides a useful guide to fluctuations in pollen levels in Ireland during the spring, summer and autumn seasons.
1.1A period of the year characterized by a particular climatic feature or marked by a particular activity, event, or festivity: the rainy season the season for gathering pine needles...
- A variety of special articles are featured during religious festival seasons.
- Those managing the illegal operations say that the rainy season is the peak period for removing trees from the forest.
- Father X is not a fan of the modern season and its attendant festivities.
Synonyms
period, active period, time, time of year, spell, term, phase, stage
1.2A fixed time in the year when a particular sporting activity is pursued: the English cricket season is almost upon us...
- With the cricket season almost upon us, players all over the borough are chomping at the bit.
- He also played on the St. Otteran's basketball team for several seasons.
- A decade ago a peppy 10-year-old might divide his play among soccer, basketball, and baseball seasons.
1.3The time of year when a particular fruit, vegetable, or other food is plentiful and in good condition: the pies are made with fruit that is in season new season’s lamb...
- Shiva is offered special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables, and coconuts, during ritual worship.
- These trees provide fruit only during certain seasons, but last forever.
- With half of the season already over, fruit lovers feel they have to wait till next year to enjoy the delicious mangoes.
Synonyms
available, obtainable, readily available/obtainable, to be had, on offer, on the market, growing, common, plentiful, abundant
1.4 (the season) A time of year traditionally adopted by the English upper classes for a series of fashionable social events.Last night saw the social event of the season in Birmingham....
- The inauguration is certainly shaping up to be the social event of the season.
- Her parties were always the social event of the season.
1.5 archaic A proper or suitable time: to everything there is a season...
- To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun.
1.6 archaic An indefinite or unspecified period of time; a while: this most beautiful soul; who walked with me for a season in this world...
- Yes, human beings are allowed for a season in this world to accomplish His greater purpose.
2chiefly North American A set or sequence of related television programmes; a series: the first two seasons of the show...
- I just saw the third season finale, amazing, the best episode of the entire series, in my opinion.
- During the season finale they both finally recognized the goodness and the danger inherent in each other and in themselves.
- His danger level continues to escalate toward an explosive season cliffhanger.
3A period when a female mammal is ready to mate: the bitch can come into season at irregular intervals
verb [with object]
1Add salt, herbs, pepper, or other spices to (food): season the soup to taste with salt and pepper...
- Salt is good for seasoning food; just a little brings out the best in it.
- Lightly oil and season the steak with salt and black pepper then cook on a hot grill or ridged grill pan.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients, plus some salt and pepper to season, and stir well until combined.
Synonyms
flavour, add flavouring to, add salt/pepper to, spice, add spices/herbs to
informal pep up, add zing to
1.1Add a quality or feature to (something), especially so as to make it more lively or exciting: his conversation is seasoned liberally with exclamation points and punch lines...
- They are also famous for seasoning their works with lots of salty sex.
Synonyms
enliven, leaven, add spice to, enrich, liven up, animate, augment
informal pep up, add zest/zing to
2Make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used: I collect and season most of my wood...
- Even well seasoned firewood can be ruined by bad storage.
- But, if you must, please make sure it's dry, seasoned wood, and only burn in an EPA-certified wood-burning device.
- It has for long been thought that, as wood is seasoned outdoors and turns grey, darkening the ground beneath it, harsh tannins are being leached out of the wood.
Synonyms
mature, age, mellow, condition, acclimatize, temper, prepare, prime, ripen
Phrases
for all seasons
in season
out of season
season's greetings
Origin
Middle English: from Old French seson, from Latin satio(n-) 'sowing', later 'time of sowing', from the root of serere 'to sow'.
This is from Old French seson, from a Latin term which initially meant ‘sowing’ but which later came to mean ‘time of sowing’, from serere ‘to sow’. The sense ‘add savoury flavouring to (a dish)’ was in early use; it comes from the primary sense in Old French which was ‘to ripen, make (fruit) palatable by the influence of the seasons’.
Rhymes
- pointer-reading
- Pointers
- pointe shoe
- point estimate
- point-event
- pointe work
- Pointe-à-Pitre
- point focus
- Point Four
- pointful
- pointfulness
- point function
- point ground
- point group
- point guard
- point handle
- point-hole
- pointillage
- pointillism
- pointillist
- pointillistic
- pointillé
- pointing
- pointing bone
- pointing device