Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

season

 - 6 dictionary results

sea⋅son

  [see-zuhn]
Use season in a Sentence
–noun
1. one of the four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, but geographically at different dates in different climates.
2. a period of the year characterized by particular conditions of weather, temperature, etc.: the rainy season.
3. a period of the year when something is best or available: the oyster season.
4. a period of the year marked by certain conditions, activities, etc.: baseball season.
5. a period of the year immediately before and after a special holiday or occasion: the Christmas season.
6. Sports.
a. a period with reference to the total number of games to be played by a team: a 162-game season.
b. a period with reference to the won-lost record of a team after it has completed its schedule: a .700 season.
7. any period or time: in the season of my youth.
8. a suitable, proper, fitting, or right time: This is not the season for frivolity.
–verb (used with object)
9. to heighten or improve the flavor of (food) by adding condiments, spices, herbs, or the like.
10. to give relish or a certain character to: conversation seasoned with wit.
11. to mature, ripen, or condition by exposure to suitable conditions or treatment: a writer seasoned by experience.
12. to dry or otherwise treat (lumber) so as to harden and render immune to shrinkage, warpage, etc.
13. to accustom or harden: troops seasoned by battle.
–verb (used without object)
14. to become seasoned, matured, hardened, or the like.
—Idioms
15. for a season, for a time, esp. a short time: He lived in Paris for a season.
16. in good season, in enough time; sufficiently early: Applicants will be notified of our decision in good season.
17. in season,
a. in the time or state for use, eating, etc.: Asparagus is now in season.
b. in the period regulated by law, as for hunting and fishing.
c. at the right time; opportunely.
d. (of an animal, esp. female) in a state of readiness for mating; in heat.
e. in good season.
18. in season and out of season, regardless of time or season; at all times: Misfortunes plague this family in season and out of season.
19. out of season, not in season: The price is so high because lilacs are out of season now.
Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME sesoun, seson < OF se(i)son < L satiōn- (s. of satiō) a sowing (VL: sowing time), equiv. to sa- (var. s. of serere to sow) + -tiōn- -tion; (v.) ME seso(u)nen < OF saisonner to ripen, make palatable by aging, deriv. of seison

Related forms:
sea⋅soned⋅ly, adverb
sea⋅son⋅er, noun
sea⋅son⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
14. mature, harden, toughen.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To season
sea·son   (sē'zən)   
n.  

    1. One of the four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter, in the North and South Temperate zones. Each season, beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, is characterized by specific meteorological or climatic conditions.

    2. The two divisions of the year, rainy and dry, in some tropical regions.

  2. A recurrent period characterized by certain occurrences, occupations, festivities, or crops: the holiday season; tomato season.

  3. A suitable, natural, or convenient time: a season for merriment.

  4. A period of time: gone for a season.

v.   sea·soned, sea·son·ing, sea·sons

v.   tr.

  1. To improve or enhance the flavor of (food) by adding salt, spices, herbs, or other flavorings.

  2. To add zest, piquancy, or interest to: seasoned the lecture with jokes.

  3. To treat or dry (lumber, for example) until ready for use; cure.

  4. To render competent through trial and experience: a lawyer who had been seasoned by years in the trial courts.

  5. To accustom or inure; harden: troops who had been seasoned in combat. See Synonyms at harden.

  6. To moderate; temper.

v.   intr.
To become usable, competent, or tempered.

[Middle English, from Old French seison, from Latin satiō, satiōn-, act of sowing, from satus, past participle of serere, to plant; see sē- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

season  (n.)
c.1300, "a period of the year," with ref. to weather or work, from O.Fr. seison (Mod.Fr. saison) "a sowing, planting," from L. sationem (nom. satio) "a sowing," from pp. stem of serere "to sow" (see sow). Sense shifted in V.L. from "act of sowing" to "time of sowing." In O.Fr. and O.Prov. this was extended to "season" in general (sowing season being the most important). Seasonable is first recorded c.1380. Season ticket is attested from 1820.

season  (v.)
"improve the flavor of by adding spices," c.1300, from O.Fr. assaisoner "to ripen, season," from root of season (n.) on the notion of fruit becoming more palatable as it ripens. Applied to timber by 1540. In 16c., it also meant "to copulate with." Seasoning (n.) is from 1580.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
season   (sē'zən)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. One of four natural divisions of the year—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—in temperate zones. Each season has its own characteristic weather and lasts approximately three months. The change in the seasons is brought about by the shift in the angle at which the Sun's rays strike the Earth. This angle changes as the Earth orbits in its yearly cycle around the Sun due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. For example, when the northern or southern hemisphere of the Earth is at an angle predominantly facing the Sun and has more daylight hours of direct, overhead sunlight than nighttime hours, it is in its summer season; the opposite hemisphere is in then opposite condition and is in its winter season. See also equinox, solstice.

  2. In some tropical climates, either of the two divisions—rainy and dry—into which the year is divided. These divisions are defined on the basis of levels of precipitation.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

season

see in season; open season.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see season on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way