word | biennial |
---|---|
definition | (1) Occurring every two years. (2) Continuing or lasting over two years. |
eg_sentence | The great biennial show of new art in Venice usually either puzzles or angers the critics. |
explanation | Biennial conventions, celebrations, competitions, and sports events come every two years. Biennials are plants that live two years, bearing flowers and fruit only in the second year. (Carrots and sugar beets are two examples; since we're only interested in their roots, we don't wait another year to see their flower and fruit.) In contrast, semiannual means “twice a year.” But no one can agree whether biweekly means “twice a week” or “every two weeks,” and whether bimonthly means “twice a month” or “every two months.” Maybe we should stop using both of them until we can decide |
IPA | baɪˈɛniəl |
Tags: mwvb::unit:15, mwvb::unit:15:word, mwvb::word, mwvb::word-cloze, mwvb::word-reverse, obsidian_to_anki
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