Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The tenth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar: "October" is the month that follows September and precedes November. It has 31 days.

Usage

• "October" is always capitalized as it is a proper noun.
• It is used to refer to a specific point in time, a period, or events occurring within that month.
• Common prepositions used with "October" are (for the month) and (for a specific day within the month).

Examples

• As a time marker:
  • My birthday is in October.
  • The conference starts on October 15th.
• Describing characteristics:
  • October weather is often cool and crisp.
  • We love the October foliage in New England.

Advanced Usage

• "An October surprise": In politics, especially U.S. politics, an unexpected event late in an election campaign that may influence the result.
  • The candidate's sudden resignation was a real October surprise.
• Poetic/Descriptive Use: Often associated with autumn, harvest, and changing leaves.
  • The October sky was a deep, clear blue.

Variants and Related Words

• Octobers (plural noun): Used to refer to multiple years of the month.
  • I have fond memories of many Octobers spent at the lake house.
• Oct. (abbreviation): The standard written abbreviation for October.
  • The deadline is Oct. 31.

Synonyms

• Tenth month: A descriptive synonym, though not commonly used in everyday speech.
• Autumn month / Fall month: A descriptive term highlighting its seasonal position (primarily in the Northern Hemisphere).

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• "Octoberfest": (Often capitalized as Oktoberfest) A worldwide festival inspired by the original German beer festival that begins in late September and runs into early October.
  • We're going to the local Octoberfest this weekend.
• "The October Revolution": Refers to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia (which occurred in November according to the Gregorian calendar but was in October according to the Julian calendar then in use in Russia).
  • The October Revolution was a pivotal event in world history.

Noun

1. the month following September and preceding November