different between annual vs biennial

English

Etymology

First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annu?lem, annu?lis, related to Latin ann?lis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?æn.ju.?l/, /?æn.j?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æn.ju.?l/

Adjective

annual (not comparable)

1. Happening once every year.

2. Of, for, or relating to a whole year, often as a recurring cycle; determined or reckoned by the year; accumulating in the course of a year; performed, executed, or completed over the course of a year. See also circannual.

3. (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle that is completed in only one growing season; e.g. beans, corn, marigold. See Annual plant in Wikipedia. Compare biennial, perennial.
4. (entomology) Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.

Synonyms

• (in senses 1 and 2): yearly

Derived terms

Related terms

• biennial
• perennial

Translations

See also

• per annum

Noun

annual (plural annuals)

1. An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc., which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.

   I read the magazine, but I usually don't purchase the annuals.

2. (botany) An annual plant; a plant with a life span of just one growing season; a plant which naturally germinates, flowers and dies in one year. Compare biennial, perennial.

   I can't wait to plant my annuals in the spring.

3. A medical checkup taking place once a year.
   • 1976, Better Homes and Gardens (volume 54, issues 7-12, page 250)

     Some routine annuals take a half hour and cost about $30.

4. (theater) A pantomime taking place once a year.
   • 1919, Lionel Carson, The Stage Year Book (page 67)

     Excellent work has been done by the Playgoers' Club in connection with its Christmas Pantomime Fund. Thousands of children who possibly otherwise would have little chance of witnessing one of the hardy annuals have been annually taken […]

   • 1949, Albert Edward Wilson, The Story of Pantomime (page 61)

     From 1852 until 1888 he was the author of every Drury Lane pantomime, or "Annuals" as in his old fashioned way he preferred to […]

Translations

Scots

Alternative forms

• annuall, annwall, annowell, annuail

Pronunciation

• (Hawick dialect) IPA^(key): /??nw?ull/

Noun

annual (not comparable)

1. annual.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin bienni(um) (“two-year period”) [from bis, bi- (“twice”) + annus (“year”)] + -al (suffix forming adjectives); surface analysis bi- +? -ennial.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba???n??l/
• Rhymes: -?n??l

Adjective

biennial (not comparable)

1. Happening every two years.
2. Lasting for two years.

Synonyms

• biennary (uncommon); biannual (proscribed)

Related terms

• biennium
• biennially
• biannual, semiannual

Translations

Noun

biennial (plural biennials)

1. A plant that requires two years to complete its life-cycle, germinating and growing in its first year, then producing its flowers and fruit in its second year, after which it usually dies
2. An event that happens every two years

Translations

See also

• annual
• perennial