perennial — [pə ren′ē əl] adj. [< L perennis, lasting through the year < per , through + annus, a year: see PER1 & ANNUAL] 1. lasting or active throughout the whole year 2. lasting or continuing for a long time [perennial youth] 3. returning or… … English World dictionary
Perennial — Per*en ni*al, n. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
perennial — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lasting through a year or several years. 2) (of a plant) living for several years. Compare with ANNUAL(Cf. ↑annually), BIENNIAL(Cf. ↑biennially). 3) lasting or doing something for a long time or for ever. ► NOUN … English terms dictionary
perennial — index chronic, consecutive, constant, continual (connected), continuous, immutable, incessant, i … Law dictionary
perennial — 1640s, evergreen, formed in English from L. perennis lasting through the year (or years), from per through (see PER (Cf. per)) + annus year (see ANNUAL (Cf. annual)). Botanical sense of Remaining alive through a number of years is attested from… … Etymology dictionary
perennial — perpetual, incessant, unremitting, constant, *continual, continuous Analogous words: *lasting, perpetual, perdurable, stable: *everlasting, unceasing … New Dictionary of Synonyms
perennial — with reference to plants, means ‘lasting several years’ by contrast with annual which means ‘lasting for one growing season’ … Modern English usage
perennial — [adj] enduring, perpetual abiding, annual, ceaseless, chronic, constant, continual, continuing, deathless, durable, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, incessant, inveterate, lasting, lifelong, long lasting, long lived, longstanding,… … New thesaurus
perennial — [[t]pəre̱niəl[/t]] perennials 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n You use perennial to describe situations or states that keep occurring or which seem to exist all the time; used especially to describe problems or difficulties. ...the perennial urban… … English dictionary
perennial — adjective Etymology: Latin perennis, from per throughout + annus year more at per , annual Date: 1644 1. present at all seasons of the year 2. persisting for several years usually with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part < perennial… … New Collegiate Dictionary
