biennial
/baɪˈeniəl/ (bre, ipa) · /baɪˈeniəl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)bī-ˈe-nē-əl/ (ame, mw) · /baɪˈen.i.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /baɪˈen.i.əl/ (ame, ipa)
biennial — adjective
- biennialpositive
- more biennialcomparative
- most biennialsuperlative
1. describing an event, activity, or official process that happens once in every tw
describing an event, activity, or official process that happens once in every two years, so there is a full year with no occurrence in between.
The biennial conference on climate policy brings together scientists from forty nations.
biennial conference
Henry missed the biennial election because he was working overseas that year.
The gallery's biennial art fair features works by emerging and established artists.
Gabriela's team publishes a biennial report on air quality across the region.
- two-yearly
less formal synonym, often used in British English
- once every two years
a phrase paraphrase used when biennial might cause confusion with biannual
- annual
happening every year, not every two years
- semiannual
happening twice a year
文法句型
biennial + noun
be + biennial
用法筆記
Frequently confused with biannual, which means 'twice a year' rather than 'once every two years.' When you need to make the meaning completely clear, consider saying 'once every two years' instead.
常見錯誤
2. lasting or continuing through a period of two years — for example, a plant that
lasting or continuing through a period of two years — for example, a plant that grows leaves in its first season and flowers in its second, or a course of study that runs across two full academic years.
The farmer explained that onions are biennial crops, though most are harvested yearly.
biennial crops
Deepa learned that foxgloves follow a biennial pattern, blooming only in their second year.
biennial pattern
A biennial growth cycle means the plant stores energy in its roots during year one.
The college offers a biennial program that runs for two full academic years.
- two-year
used informally for plants, programs, or contracts lasting two years
- two-season
used in gardening contexts to describe the growth pattern
文法句型
biennial + noun
be + biennial
用法筆記
This sense describes something that lasts or continues for two years, whether a plant's life cycle, a fixed-term program, or another two-year span. In botany, a biennial plant is distinct from an annual (one season) and a perennial (many seasons). Common biennials include carrots, parsley, foxgloves, and onions.
常見錯誤
biennial — noun
- biennialsingular
- biennialsplural
1. a plant that lives for two growing seasons, spending the first year growing leav
a plant that lives for two growing seasons, spending the first year growing leaves and roots and the second year producing flowers, seeds, and then dying.
Carrots and parsley are biennials that gardeners often harvest before they reach full maturity.
biennials — carrots, parsley
Yuna sowed the biennial in early spring and waited patiently for it to bloom the next year.
A biennial stored in a cold frame over winter will flower and produce seeds by summer.
The nursery sells biennials as seedlings in autumn so they flower the following spring.
- biennial plant
the full botanical term used in scientific writing
文法句型
a biennial
biennials (plural)
用法筆記
Many common vegetables are biennials in botanical terms, but gardeners typically harvest them for food in the first year before they reach the flowering stage.