Definition

1. Noun:

   • A division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology, and daylight hours: One of the four natural periods (spring, summer, autumn, winter) into which the year is divided.
   • A recurrent period characterized by a particular activity, event, or phenomenon: A time of year associated with a specific holiday, sport, agricultural harvest, or cultural activity.
   • A suitable or proper time: An opportune moment for something.

2. Verb:

   • To add salt, herbs, or spices to food to enhance its flavor: The act of flavoring food during cooking or before serving.
   • To make something more acceptable, palatable, or interesting by adding an extra element: To moderate or temper something by introducing another quality.
   • To make wood or other material fit for use by drying or aging: To treat or prepare something through exposure to conditions that improve its durability or suitability.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • My favorite season is autumn because of the colorful leaves.
  • The holiday season brings families together.
  • The football season starts in September.
• Verb:
  • Remember to season the soup with a little pepper.
  • She seasoned her lecture with humorous anecdotes to keep the students engaged.
  • The timber needs to be seasoned for several months before it can be used for construction.

Advanced Usage

• "In season": Currently available for harvest or consumption; at the peak of freshness. Also, legally permitted to be hunted or fished.
  • Strawberries are cheaper when they are in season.
• "Out of season": Not currently available, harvested, or legally permitted.
  • The beach town is very quiet out of season.
• "For a season": For a period of time.
  • He lived abroad for a season.

Variants and Related Words

• Seasonal (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a particular season.
  • The demand for ice cream is seasonal.
• Seasoning (n): A substance like salt or herbs used to flavor food.
  • This dish needs more seasoning.
• Seasoned (adj): Experienced through long practice; (of food) flavored with seasoning; (of wood) dried and treated.
  • He is a seasoned traveler.

Synonyms

• Noun: Period, time, phase, term.
• Verb: Flavor, spice, temper, moderate, acclimate, habituate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Season" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "To everything there is a season": A saying meaning that there is an appropriate time for every action or event. (From Ecclesiastes in the Bible).
  • Don't rush; remember, to everything there is a season.
• "Season's greetings": A common holiday greeting used during the Christmas and New Year period.
  • The card read, "Season's greetings to you and your family."

Noun

1. a recurrent time marked by major holidays
   • it was the Christmas season
2. one of the natural periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices or atmospheric conditions
   • the regular sequence of the seasons
3. a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
   • he celebrated his 10th season with the ballet company
   • she always looked forward to the avocado season

Verb

1. make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate
   • she tempered her criticism
2. make fit
   • This trip will season even the hardiest traveller
3. lend flavor to
   • Season the chicken breast after roasting it