different between annual vs quadrennial

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

Alternative forms

• quadriennial

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quadriennium (“four-year period”), from quattuor (“four”) + annus (“year”); surface analysis quadr- +? -ennial.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?kw??d??n.i.?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kw??d??ni.?l/
• Rhymes: -?d??n??l

Adjective

quadrennial (not comparable)

1. Happening every four years.
   • 1852, Millard Fillmore, State of the Union Address:

     The quadrennial election of Chief Magistrate has passed off with less than the usual excitement.

2. Lasting for four years.

Derived terms

• quadrennially

Related terms

• triennial
• biennial
• perennial
• annual

Noun

quadrennial (plural quadrennials)

1. A four-year period, a quadrennium.