biennial

Noun · Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

(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

Adjective (2)

having a life cycle lasting two seasons“a biennial life cycle”“parsnips and carrots are biennial plants often grown as annuals”Synonyms: two-year
occurring every second year“they met at biennial conventions”Synonyms: biyearly

Webster's Dictionary (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]

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]

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]