Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
transit
transit camp
transit circle
transit instrument
transit lane
transit lounge
transit passenger
transit theodolite
transition
transition element
transition game
transition point
transition state
transition temperature
transitive
transitory
Transkei
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

transient

tran·sient [ tránshənt, tránənt, tránzee ənt ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. short in duration: lasting for only a short time and quickly coming to an end, disappearing, or changing
a transient emotion
transient sunlight on an otherwise cloudy day

2. not permanently settled in place: staying in a place for only a short period of time
transient workers

3. philosophy 
Same as  transeunt




noun  (plural tran·sients)
Definition:
 
1. somebody staying briefly: somebody who stays in a place only briefly, e.g. a migrant laborer or hotel guest

2. electrical engineering brief disturbance in electrical circuit: an oscillation or brief disturbance in a system, e.g. a sudden pulse of current or voltage in an electrical circuit

[Late 16th century. Alteration of Latin transiens (stem transeunt-), present participle of transire "pass away, go across" < ire "go"]

tran·sience noun
tran·sien·cy noun
tran·sient·ly adverb
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft