different between biennial vs triannual

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

English

Etymology

tri- +? annual

Adjective

triannual (not comparable)

1. Happening three times each year.

Usage notes

• To avoid confusion between "triennial," once every three years, and "triannual," three times in one year, it is often better to substitute a less ambiguous phrase such as "three times a year" or "every four months."

Translations

See also

• triennial (every three years) which is sometimes confused with triannual (usually every four months).
• biennial (every two years).
• biannual (twice a year).
  • semiannual (also twice a year).