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searing
searoom
seascape
seashell
seashore
seasick
seaside
seaside sparrow
season
season opener
season ticket
seasonable
seasonal
seasonal affective disorder
seasoned issue
seasoning
seasoning meat
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season

sea·son [ sz'n ]


noun  (plural sea·sons)
Definition:
 
1. traditional division of year: a traditional division of the year based on distinctive weather conditions. In temperate regions, there are four seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter, while in tropical countries there are often only two, a dry season and a rainy season.

2. period for particular activity: a period of the year during which a particular activity usually takes place in the human world or among plants and animals
planting season
mating season

3. period set aside for activity: a fixed period of every year during which particular activities, especially sports, take place or are permitted
baseball season

4. player's or team's performance: the performance of a player or team during a sporting season in relation to others
had his best season ever

5. time for food: the time of year when something, especially a kind of food, is abundant and at its best
asparagus season

6. high season at resorts: the time of year at which resorts receive most visitors and charge their highest rates
the height of the season

7. social season: the time during which the important social events of the year involving members of high society take place

8. time around holiday: the period of time just before, after, and including a holiday
the Christmas season

9. period of time: a period of time of unspecified length
a brief season

10. suitable time: an appropriate time for something ( literary )

11. U.K. arts connected series of performances: a period of time during which artistic works of a particular kind are shown or performed



verb  (past and past participle sea·soned, present participle sea·son·ing, 3rd person present singular sea·sons)
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb add flavorings: to add flavorings such as salt, spices, or herbs to food

2. transitive verb enliven something: to liven up something such as a speech or piece of writing by inserting exciting or amusing material
a speech seasoned with wit

3. transitive and intransitive verb dry out before use: to allow wood to dry out fully before use, or become fully dried out before being used

4. transitive verb prepare new pan for use: to prepare a new frying pan or wok for use by rubbing vegetable oil into the heated cooking surface

5. transitive verb cause somebody to gain experience: to cause or enable somebody to gain experience and become more skilled, or to gain toughness and strength
seasoned troops

6. transitive verb moderate something: to temper something such as a strong emotion ( literary )

[14th century. Via Old French< Latin sation- "sowing" < sat-, past participle of serere "sow"]

sea·son·er noun

in season 

1. 
plentifully available and at a peak of quality
Strawberries are in season now.
 

2. 
allowed to be hunted, caught, or killed
 

3. 
veterinary medicinesexually receptive to males
 

4. 
at an appropriate time (literary)


out of season 

1. 
not widely available or not of good quality because of the time of year
Tulips are out of season at this time of year.
 

2. 
not allowed to be hunted, caught, or killed because of the time of year
 

3. 
at an inappropriate time (literary)



Cultural Note

The Four Seasons, a violin concerto (1725) by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi's best-known work (Opus 8) consists of four movements, each of which describes a season with appropriate music. The section called "Spring," for example, features birdsong, while "Autumn" incorporates sounds that suggest rustling leaves. Vivaldi provided a commentary on each movement in a series of sonnets he wrote to accompany the concerto.

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