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Definition of persistent - 4 dictionary results

per⋅sist⋅ent

  [per-sis-tuhnt, -zis-]
Use persistent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. persisting, esp. in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering: a most annoyingly persistent young man.
2. lasting or enduring tenaciously: the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.
3. constantly repeated; continued: persistent noise.
4. Biology.
a. continuing or permanent.
b. having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.
5. Botany. remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.
Origin:
1820–30; < L persistent- (s. of persistēns), prp. of persistere to persist; see -ent

Related forms:
per⋅sist⋅ent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. indefatigable, pertinacious, tenacious. See stubborn. 3. steady.

Antonyms:
3. sporadic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To persistent
per·sis·tent   (pər-sĭs'tənt, -zĭs'-)   
adj.  

  1. Refusing to give up or let go; persevering obstinately.

  2. Insistently repetitive or continuous: a persistent ringing of the telephone.

  3. Existing or remaining in the same state for an indefinitely long time; enduring: persistent rumors; a persistent infection.

  4. Botany Lasting past maturity without falling off, as the calyx on an eggplant or the scales of a pine cone.

  5. Zoology Retained permanently, rather than disappearing in an early stage of development: the persistent gills of fishes.

per·sis'tent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: per·sis·tent
Pronunciation: -t&nt
Function: adjective
1 : existing or continuing for a long time: as a : effective in the open for an appreciable time usually through slow volatilizing persistent> b : degraded only slowly by the environment<persistent pesticides> c : remaining infective for a relatively long time in a vector after an initial period of incubation <persistent viruses>
2 : continuing to exist despite interference or treatment persistent cough>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

persistent
persistence

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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