'Biennial' definitions:

Definition of 'biennial'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Having a life cycle lasting two seasons; "a biennial life cycle"; "parsnips and carrots are biennial plants often grown as annuals" [syn: biennial, two-year] [ant: annual, one-year, perennial]
adjective
Occurring every second year; "they met at biennial conventions" [syn: biennial, biyearly]
noun
(botany) a plant having a life cycle that normally takes two seasons from germination to death to complete; flowering biennials usually bloom and fruit in the second season

Definition of 'Biennial'

From: GCIDE
  • Biennial \Bi*en"ni*al\, n.
  • 1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years; esp. a biennial examination. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) A plant which exists or lasts for two years. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Biennial'

From: GCIDE
  • Biennial \Bi*en"ni*al\, a. [L. biennalis and biennis, fr. biennium a space of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf. Annual.]
  • 1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'biennial'

From: GCIDE
  • Cyclic \Cyc"lic\ (s?k"l?k or s?"kl?k), Cyclical \Cyc"lic*al\ (s?k"l?-kal), a. [Cf. F. cycluque, Gr. kykliko`s, fr. ky`klos See Cycle.]
  • 1. Of or pertaining to a cycle or circle; moving in cycles; as, cyclical time. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Chemistry) Having atoms bonded to form a ring structure. Opposite of acyclic.
  • Note: Used most commonly in respect to organic compounds.
  • Note: [Narrower terms: bicyclic; heterocyclic; homocyclic, isocyclic]
  • Syn: closed-chain, closed-ring. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 3. Recurring in cycles[2]; having a pattern that repeats at approximately equal intervals; periodic. Opposite of noncyclic.
  • Note: [Narrower terms: {alternate(prenominal), alternating(prenominal)}; {alternate(prenominal), every other(prenominal), every second(prenominal)}; alternating(prenominal), oscillating(prenominal); biyearly; {circadian exhibiting 24-hour periodicity)}; circular; daily, diurnal; fortnightly, biweekly; hourly; {midweek, midweekly}; seasonal; semestral, semestrial; semiannual, biannual, biyearly; {semiweekly, biweekly}; weekly; annual, yearly; biennial; bimonthly, bimestrial; half-hourly; half-yearly; monthly; tertian, alternate(prenominal); triennial] [WordNet 1.5]
  • 4. Marked by repeated cycles[2]. [WordNet 1.5]
  • Cyclic chorus, the chorus which performed the songs and dances of the dithyrambic odes at Athens, dancing round the altar of Bacchus in a circle.
  • Cyclic poets, certain epic poets who followed Homer, and wrote merely on the Trojan war and its heroes; -- so called because keeping within the circle of a single subject. Also, any series or coterie of poets writing on one subject. --Milman. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'biennial'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Biennial'