season
SEE-zn
Season (noun) means one of the four main divisions of the year — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — marked by particular weather patterns. Example: “Autumn is her favourite season because of the cooler weather.”
noun
1
One of the four main divisions of the year — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — marked by particular weather patterns.
"Autumn is her favourite season because of the cooler weather."
"Farmers plan their planting around the growing season."
"Winter is the season when we light the fire every evening."
2
A period of the year associated with a particular activity, sport, or event.
"The football season kicks off in August."
"Tourist season brings crowds of visitors to the island every July."
"During the cricket season, the village pitch is busy every weekend."
verb
1
To add salt, herbs, or spices to food to improve its flavour.
"Season the soup with plenty of black pepper before serving."
"She seasoned the chicken with garlic and rosemary."
"I always season the potatoes with a little salt and paprika before roasting."
How to use season
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither one of the four yearly weather periods, a set time when something regularly happens, or the act of adding flavour to food.
Common pairings
change of season
high season
season with salt
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Word forms
- Plural
- seasons
- Third person singular
- seasons
- Past tense
- seasoned
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Autumn is her favourite _____ because of the cooler weather.
Etymology
From Old French "seson" ("time of sowing"), from Latin "satio" ("act of sowing"). The cooking sense developed later, from the idea of a dish being brought to its proper, ripened state.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for season
See all rhymes for season →Frequently asked questions
What does “season” mean?
The word “season” means one of the four main divisions of the year — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — marked by particular weather patterns. In plain terms, either one of the four yearly weather periods, a set time when something regularly happens, or the act of adding flavour to food.
How do you pronounce “season”?
“Season” is pronounced SEE-zn ([ˈsi.zn̩] in IPA).
How do you use “season” in a sentence?
Here is “season” used in a sentence: “Autumn is her favourite season because of the cooler weather.”
What is another word for “season”?
Words with a similar meaning to “season” include grow up, mature, alloy and intermingle.
What part of speech is “season”?
Depending on how it is used, “season” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “season” come from?
The word “season” comes from Latin. From Old French "seson" ("time of sowing"), from Latin "satio" ("act of sowing"). The cooking sense developed later, from the idea of a dish being brought to its proper, ripened state.
Is “season” a common word?
“Season” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “season” have?
“Season” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the four main divisions of the year — spring, summer, autumn, or winter — marked by particular weather patterns.
What are the four seasons?
The four seasons are spring, summer, autumn (also called fall), and winter. Each covers roughly three months and brings its own weather, temperature, and daylight patterns — spring's growth, summer's warmth, autumn's cooling, and winter's cold. They repeat in a yearly cycle driven by Earth's orbit.
What causes the seasons?
Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis, about 23.5 degrees, as the planet orbits the Sun. When your hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, you get summer; when it tilts away, winter. It's the tilt, not Earth's distance from the Sun, that drives the change.
What is the difference between autumn and fall?
There's no difference in meaning — both name the season between summer and winter. 'Autumn' is the older word and is standard in British English, while 'fall' is more common in American English, drawn from the phrase 'fall of the leaf.' Both are perfectly correct.
Why are the seasons reversed in the Southern Hemisphere?
Because of Earth's tilt, the two hemispheres lean toward the Sun at opposite times of year. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun and has summer, the Southern Hemisphere tilts away and has winter. That's why December is warm in Australia but cold in Canada.
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