period definition - Dictionary

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	pericycle

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period

pe·ri·od [ pree əd ]

noun (plural pe·ri·ods)

Definition:

1. length of time: an interval or portion of time

2. identifiable time: an interval of time that is identified by what happens or exists during it

the early Victorian period

3. timetable section: a division of a schedule or timetable, e.g. a portion of the school day

4. division of game: a division of playing time in some sports

5. punctuation mark: the punctuation mark (.) that is used at the end of a sentence or in abbreviations

6. menstruation time: an occurrence of menstruation

7. geology unit of geologic time: a division of geologic time shorter than an era and longer than an epoch

8. physics time for single cycle: the time required for one complete cycle of a repetitive system, e.g. the rotation of a star or the movement of an electromagnetic wave.
Symbol T

9. mathematics interval between equal values: the interval between the points at which the values of a periodic function are equal

10. chemistry row in periodic table: a horizontal row of elements in the periodic table

11. poetry unit of poetic rhythm: one of the longer units in the classical system of analyzing the rhythms of poetry

12. music musical passage: a long passage of music consisting of two or more contrasting musical phrases

interjection

Definition:

showing finality: a word added to the end of a statement to emphasize that the speaker will not discuss it further ( informal )

I'm not going, period!

adjective

Definition:

relating to historical time: belonging to or intended to suggest a historical time

actors in period costume

[14th century. Via French< Greek periodos, literally "way around" < hodos "way"]

Word Usage


	A period is used at the end of a sentence that is not a question or exclamation: It rained last Saturday. It is also used after some abbreviations: at 11 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2003. The period is increasingly omitted in abbreviations, especially after capital letters (e.g., VCR). Shortened forms used as words in their own right (e.g., gym, disco, pub) and acronyms pronounced as words (e.g., AIDS, laser, NATO) should not be written with periods. The same mark is used in decimal notation where it is read as "point." It is also used in Internet addresses, where it is read as "dot" (.com).