transient

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: transeuntephemeralpassingshort-livedtransitoryfugacious

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. one who stays for only a short time“transient laborers”
  2. (physics) a short-lived oscillation in a system caused by a sudden change of voltage or current or load

Adjective (2)

  1. of a mental act; causing effects outside the mindSynonyms: transeunt
  2. lasting a very short time“the ephemeral joys of childhood”“a passing fancy”“youth's transient beauty”“love is transitory but it is eternal”“fugacious blossoms”Synonyms: ephemeralpassingshort-livedtransitoryfugacious
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Transient \Tran"sient\, a. [L. transiens, -entis, p. pr. of transire, transitum, to go or pass over. See Trance.]

1.Passing before the sight or perception, or, as it were, moving over or across a space or scene viewed, and then disappearing; hence, of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable; not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as, transient pleasure. "Measured this transient world." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2.Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape. [1913 Webster]

3.Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a transient guest; transient boarders. [Colloq. U. S.] [1913 Webster]

Syn: Transient, Transitory, Fleeting.

Usage: Transient represents a thing as brief at the best; transitory, as liable at any moment to pass away. Fleeting goes further, and represents it as in the act of taking its flight. Life is transient; its joys are transitory; its hours are fleeting. [1913 Webster]

What is loose love? A transient gust.— Pope[1913 Webster]
If [we love] transitory things, which soon decay, Age must be loveliest at the latest day.— Donne.[1913 Webster]
O fleeting joys Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes. --Milton. [1913 Webster] -- Tran"sient*ly, adv. -- Tran"sient*ness, n. [1913 Webster]
Transient \Tran"sient\, n. That which remains but for a brief time. --Glanvill. [1913 Webster] Transilience

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

transient

1.<electronics> A sudden, brief increase in current or voltage in a circuit that can damage sensitive components and instruments.

(2003-06-12)

2.<software> A software object with a short and limited lifetime which is not saved for later reuse.

(1998-04-19)

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