| season (ˈsiːzən) |
| |
| —n |
| 1. | one of the four equal periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices, resulting from the apparent movement of the sun north and south of the equator during the course of the earth's orbit around it. These periods (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) have their characteristic weather conditions in different regions, and occur at opposite times of the year in the N and S hemispheres |
| 2. | a period of the year characterized by particular conditions or activities: the rainy season |
| 3. | the period during which any particular species of animal, bird, or fish is legally permitted to be caught or killed: open season on red deer |
| 4. | a period during which a particular entertainment, sport, etc, takes place: a season at the National Theatre; the football season; the tourist season |
| 5. | (esp formerly) a period of fashionable social events in a particular place: the London season |
| 6. | any definite or indefinite period |
| 7. | any of the major periods into which the ecclesiastical calendar is divided, such as Lent, Advent, or Easter |
| 8. | (sometimes capital) Christmas (esp in the phrases compliments of the season, Season's greetings) |
| 9. | a period or time that is considered proper, suitable, or natural for something |
| 10. | in good season early enough |
| 11. | in season |
| | a. (of game) permitted to be caught or killed |
| | b. (of fresh food) readily available |
| | c. in heat, Also: on heat (of some female mammals) sexually receptive |
| | d. appropriate |
| |
| —vb |
| 12. | (tr) to add herbs, salt, pepper, or spice to (food) |
| 13. | (tr) to add zest to |
| 14. | (in the preparation of timber) to undergo or cause to undergo drying |
| 15. | (tr; usually passive) to make or become mature or experienced: seasoned troops |
| 16. | (tr) to mitigate or temper: to season one's admiration with reticence |
| |
| [C13: from Old French seson, from Latin satiō a sowing, from serere to sow] |
| |
| 'seasoned |
| |
| —adj |
| |
| 'seasoner |
| |
| —n |
| |
| 'seasonless |
| |
| —adj |