perennial
Use Perennial in a sentence
i adjective
1.
lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.
2.
(of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
3.
lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream.
4.
perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.
noun
5.
a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
6.
something that is continuing or recurrent.
00:10
Perennial
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is incommodious. Does it mean:
| gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood. |
| inconvenient, as not affording sufficient space or room; uncomfortable: |
Origin:
1635–45; < Latin perenni(s) lasting the whole year through (per- per- + -enn-, combining form of annus year + -is adj. suffix) + -al1
1635–45; < Latin perenni(s) lasting the whole year through (per- per- + -enn-, combining form of annus year + -is adj. suffix) + -al1
Related forms
per·en·ni·al·i·ty, noun
per·en·ni·al·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. perdurable; constant, incessant, continual. 4. imperishable, undying, eternal, immortal.
1. perdurable; constant, incessant, continual. 4. imperishable, undying, eternal, immortal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To perennial
Collins
World English Dictionary
perennial (pəˈrɛnɪəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | lasting throughout the year or through many years |
| 2. | everlasting; perpetual |
| —n | |
| 3. | annual Compare biennial a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years |
| [C17: from Latin perennis continual, from per through + annus year] | |
| per'ennially | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
perennial
1644, "evergreen," formed in Eng. from L. perennis "lasting through the year (or years)," from per- "through" + annus "year" (see annual). Botanical sense of "Remaining alive through a number of years" is attested from 1672; fig. meaning of "enduring, permanent" is from 1750.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| perennial (pə-rěn'ē-əl) Pronunciation Key
Adjective Living for three or more years. Noun A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials. Compare annual, biennial. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Biotechnologists are converting annual crops into perennial ones, eliminating the need for yearly planting.
The perennial pepperweed is an attractive plant with dainty white flowers.
It might even be possible, she adds, to breed a perennial corn.
Crime is another topic of perennial interest to voters.
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