season

¹sea·son

noun \ˈsē-z^ən\

Definition of SEASON

1

a : a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature <in a season of religious awakening — F. A. Christie> b : a suitable or natural time or occasion <when my season comes to sit on David's throne — John Milton> c : an indefinite period of time : while <sent home again to her father for a season — Francis Hackett>

2

a : a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon <hay fever season>: as (1) : a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture (as growth or harvesting) (2) : a period in which an animal engages in some activity (as migrating or mating); also : estrus, heat (3) : the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather <a long rainy season> (4) : a period marked by special activity especially in some field <tourist season> <hunting season> (5) : a period in which a place is most frequented b : one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided c : the time of a major holiday

3

: year <a boy of seven seasons>

4

[Middle English sesoun, from sesounen to season] : seasoning

5

: the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season <got through the season undefeated>

6

: off-season <closed for the season>

— in season

1

: at the right time

2

: at the stage of greatest fitness (as for eating) <peaches are in season>

3

: legally available to be hunted or caught

— out of season

: not in season

Examples of SEASON

1. I enjoy watching the seasons change every year.
2. These plants have a short growing season.
3. Deer season starts next week.
4. Monsoon season is coming soon.
5. This season's fashions are very feminine.
6. Pink is in style this season.
7. The theater company will be putting on plays by Shakespeare this season.
8. one of the shows in the network's season lineup

Origin of SEASON

Middle English sesoun, from Anglo-French seison natural season, appropriate time, from Latin sation-, satio action of sowing, from serere to sow — more at sow

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

Rhymes with SEASON

reason, seisin, treason