Adjacent Words

Season definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SE'ASON. n. se'zn.Season literally signifies that which comes or arrives; and in this general sense, is synonymous with time. Hence,
1. A fit or suitable time; the convenient time; the usual or appointed time; as, the messenger arrived in season; in good season. This fruit is out of season.
2. Any time, as distinguished from others.
The season prime for sweetest scents and airs. Milton.
3. A time of some continuance, but not long.
Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. Acts 13.
4. One of the four divisions of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter. The season is mild; it is cold for the season.
We saw in six days' traveling, the several seasons of the year n their beauty.
Addison.
We distinguish the season by prefixing its appropriate name, as the spring-season, summer-seacon, etc.
To be in season, to be in good time, or sufficiently early for the prupose.
To be out of season, to be too late, beyoun the proper time, or beyond the
usually appointed time.
From the sense of convenience, is derived the following.
5. That which matures or prepares for the taste; that which gives a relish.
You lack the season of all nature, sleep. Shak.
But in this sense, we now use seasoning.
SE'ASON, v.t.
1. To render palatable, or to give a higher relish to, by the addition or mixture of another substance more pungent or pleasant; as, to season meat with salt; to season any thing with spices. Leviticus 2.
2. To render more agreeable, pleasant or delightful; to give relish or zest to by something that excites, animates or exhilarates.
You season still with sports your serious hours. Dryden.
The proper use of wit is to season conversation. Tillotson.
3. To render more agreeable, or less rigorous and severe; to temper; to moderate; to qualify by admixture.
When mercy seasons justice. Shak.
4. To imbue; to tinge or taint.
Season their younger years with prudent and pious principles. Taylor.
5. To fit any use by time or habit; to mature; to prepare.
Who in want a hollow friend doth try, Directly seasons him an enemy. Shak.
6. To prepare for use by drying or hardening; to take out or suffer to escape the natural juices; as, to season timber.
7. To prepare or mature for a climate; to accustom to and enable to endure; as, to season the body to a particular climate. Long residence in the West Indies, or a fever, may season strangers.
SE'ASON, v.i.
1. To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate, as the human body.
2. To become dry and hard by the escape of natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substances. Timber seasons well under cover in the air, and ship timber seasons in salt water.
3. To betoken; to savor.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field; "he celebrated his 10th season with the ballet company"; "she always looked forward to the avocado season"
2: one of the natural periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices or atmospheric conditions; "the regular sequence of the seasons" [syn: season, time of year]
3: a recurrent time marked by major holidays; "it was the Christmas season" v
1: lend flavor to; "Season the chicken breast after roasting it" [syn: season, flavor, flavour]
2: make fit; "This trip will season even the hardiest traveller" [syn: season, harden]
3: make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate; "she tempered her criticism" [syn: temper, season, mollify]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: 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 Date: 14th century 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> II. verb (seasoned; seasoning) Etymology: Middle English sesounen, back-formation from sesounde flavored, from Anglo-French seisoné brought to a desired state, from seison Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to give (food) more flavor or zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients b. to give a distinctive quality to as if by seasoning; especially to make more agreeable <advice seasoned with wit> c. archaic to qualify by admixture ; temper 2. a. to treat (as wood or a skillet) so as to prepare for use b. to make fit by experience <a seasoned veteran> intransitive verb to become seasoned

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) associated with a type of weather and a stage of vegetation. 2 a time of year characterized by climatic or other features (the dry season). 3 a the time of year when a plant is mature or flowering etc. b the time of year when an animal breeds or is hunted. 4 a proper or suitable time. 5 a time when something is plentiful or active or in vogue. 6 (usu. prec. by the) = high season. 7 the time of year regularly devoted to an activity (the football season). 8 the time of year dedicated to social life generally (went up to London for the season). 9 a period of indefinite or varying length. 10 Brit. colloq. = season ticket. --v. 1 tr. flavour (food) with salt, herbs, etc. 2 tr. enhance with wit, excitement, etc. 3 tr. temper or moderate. 4 tr. & intr. a make or become suitable or in the desired condition, esp. by exposure to the air or weather; mature. b make or become experienced or accustomed (seasoned soldiers). Phrases and idioms: in season 1 (of foodstuff) available in plenty and in good condition. 2 (of an animal) on heat. 3 timely. season ticket a ticket entitling the holder to any number of journeys, admittances, etc., in a given period. Derivatives: seasoner n. Etymology: ME f. OF seson f. L satio -onis (in Rmc sense 'seed-time') f. serere sat- sow

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Season Sea"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seasoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Seasoning.] 1. To render suitable or appropriate; to prepare; to fit. He is fit and seasoned for his passage. --Shak. 2. To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to inure; to ripen; to mature; as, to season one to a climate. 3. Hence, to prepare by drying or hardening, or removal of natural juices; as, to season timber. 4. To fit for taste; to render palatable; to give zest or relish to; to spice; as, to season food. 5. Hence, to fit for enjoyment; to render agrecable. You season still with sports your serious hours. --Dryden. The proper use of wit is to season conversation. --Tillotson. 6. To qualify by admixture; to moderate; to temper. ``When mercy seasons justice.'' --Shak. 7. To imbue; to tinge or taint. ``Who by his tutor being seasoned with the love of the truth.'' --Fuller. Season their younger years with prudent and pious principles. --Jer. Taylor. 8. To copulate with; to impregnate. [R.] --Holland.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Season Sea"son, n. [OE. sesoun, F. saison, properly, the sowing time, fr. L. satio a sowing, a planting, fr. serere, satum, to sow, plant; akin to E. sow, v., to scatter, as seed.] 1. One of the divisions of the year, marked by alternations in the length of day and night, or by distinct conditions of temperature, moisture, etc., caused mainly by the relative position of the earth with respect to the sun. In the north temperate zone, four seasons, namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, are generally recognized. Some parts of the world have three seasons, -- the dry, the rainy, and the cold; other parts have but two, -- the dry and the rainy. The several seasons of the year in their beauty. --Addison. 2. Hence, a period of time, especially as regards its fitness for anything contemplated or done; a suitable or convenient time; proper conjuncture; as, the season for planting; the season for rest. The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs. --Milton. 3. A period of time not very long; a while; a time. Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. --Acts xiii. 11. 4. That which gives relish; seasoning. [Obs.] You lack the season of all natures, sleep. --Shak. In season, in good time, or sufficiently early for the purpose. Out of season, beyond or out of the proper time of the usual or appointed time.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Season Sea"son, v. i. 1. To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate. 2. To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance; as, timber seasons in the sun. 3. To give token; to savor. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(seasons, seasoning, seasoned) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. The seasons are the main periods into which a year can be divided and which each have their own typical weather conditions. Autumn's my favourite season. ...the only region of Brazil where all four seasons are clearly defined. ...the rainy season. N-COUNT: usu with supp 2. You can use season to refer to the period during each year when a particular activity or event takes place. For example, the planting season is the period when a particular plant or crop is planted. ...birds arriving for the breeding season... N-COUNT: usu sing, usu the -ing N 3. You can use season to refer to the period when a particular fruit, vegetable, or other food is ready for eating and is widely available. The plum season is about to begin... Now British asparagus is in season. N-COUNT: n N, also in/out of N 4. You can use season to refer to a fixed period during each year when a particular sport is played. ...the baseball season... It is his first race this season. N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp 5. A season is a period in which a play or show, or a series of plays or shows, is performed in one place. ...a season of three new plays. N-COUNT: with supp 6. A season of films is several of them shown as a series because they are connected in some way. ...a brief season of films in which Artaud appeared. N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with supp 7. The holiday or vacation season is the time when most people have their holiday. ...the peak holiday season... There are discos and clubs but these are often closed out of season. N-COUNT: usu sing, usu supp N, also in/out of N 8. If you season food with salt, pepper, or spices, you add them to it in order to improve its flavour. Season the meat with salt and pepper... I believe in seasoning food before putting it on the table. VERB: V n with n, V n 9. If wood is seasoned, it is made suitable for making into furniture or for burning, usually by being allowed to dry out gradually. Ensure that new wood has been seasoned. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed 10. see also seasoned, seasoning 11. If a female animal is in season, she is in a state where she is ready to have sex. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Period of the year. 2. Time, conjuncture, fit time, convenient time, suitable time. 3. While, time, spell, term, interval, period. II. v. a. 1. Habituate, accustom, acclimatize, mature, inure, harden, form, train, fit by habit. 2. Prepare, fit. 3. Make palatable, give relish to, spice. 4. Moderate, temper, qualify. 5. Gratify, tickle. 6. Taint, tinge, imbue. III. v. n. Be seasoned, become seasoned.

Moby Thesaurus

abate, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, accustom, adapt, adjust, adjust to, age, alter, anhydrate, assuage, attain majority, available, beautify, besprinkle, blast-freeze, bloom, box in, break, break in, breathe, brew, brine, case harden, circumscribe, color, come of age, come to maturity, condition, confirm, corn, cultivate, cure, day, decoct, dehydrate, desiccate, develop, diminish, discipline, domesticate, domesticize, dredge, dry, dry-cure, dry-salt, dye, edible, elaborate, embalm, embellish, enliven, entincture, establish, evaporate, evolve, familiarize, fateful moment, finish, fit, fix, flavor, fledge, flower, freeze, freeze-dry, fume, gentle, grow, grow up, habituate, harden, hedge, hedge about, hour, housebreak, imbrue, imbue, impregnate, infiltrate, infuse, instant, instill, interval, inure, irradiate, jerk, juncture, kairos, kipper, leave the nest, leaven, limit, marinade, marinate, mature, mellow, minute, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, moment, moment of truth, mummify, narrow, naturalize, occasion, opportunity, orient, orientate, palliate, penetrate, pep up, pepper, perfect, period, permeate, pervade, pickle, point, polish, pregnant moment, prepare, preservatize, psychological moment, qualify, quick-freeze, reach manhood, reach twenty-one, reach voting age, ready, reduce, refine, refrigerate, regulate by, restrain, restrict, ripe, ripen, salt, saturate, sauce, savor, school, seasonable, seasoned, set conditions, set limits, settle down, smoke, smoke-cure, soften, space, span, spell, spice, stage, steel, steep, stretch, stuff, suffuse, tame, temper, term, time, time lag, tincture, tinge, toga virilis, toughen, train, transfuse, while, wont