ANNUAL

annual, one-year

(adjective) completing its life cycle within a year; “a border of annual flowering plants”

annual, yearly

(adjective) occurring or payable every year; “an annual trip to Paris”; “yearly medical examinations”; “annual (or yearly) income”

annual, yearly, yearbook

(noun) a reference book that is published regularly once every year

annual

(noun) (botany) a plant that completes its entire life cycle within the space of a year

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

annual (not comparable)

Happening once every year.

Of, for, or relating to a whole year, often as a recurring cycle; determined or reckoned by the year; accumulating in the course of a year; performed, executed, or completed over the course of a year. See also circannual.

(botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle that is completed in only one growing season; e.g. beans, corn, marigold. See Annual plant in Wikipedia. Compare biennial, perennial.

(entomology) Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.

Synonyms

• (in senses 1 and 2): yearly

Noun

annual (plural annuals)

An annual publication; a book, periodical, journal, report, comic book, yearbook, etc, which is published serially once a year, which may or may not be in addition to regular weekly or monthly publication.

(botany) An annual plant; a plant with a life span of just one growing season; a plant which naturally germinates, flowers and dies in one year. Compare biennial, perennial.

A medical checkup taking place once a year.

(theater) A pantomime taking place once a year.

Source: Wiktionary

An"nu*al, a. Etym: [OE. annuel, F. annuel, fr. L. annualis, fr. annus year. Cf. Annals.]

1. Of or pertaining to a year; returning every year; coming or happening once in the year; yearly. The annual overflowing of the river [Nile]. Ray.

2. Performed or accomplished in a year; reckoned by the year; as, the annual motion of the earth. A thousand pound a year, annual support. Shak.

2. Lasting or continuing only one year or one growing season; requiring to be renewed every year; as, an annual plant; annual tickets. Bacon.

An"nu*al, n.

1. A thing happening or returning yearly; esp. a literary work published once a year.

2. Anything, especially a plant, that lasts but one year or season; an annual plant. Oaths . . . in some sense almost annuals; . . . and I myself can remember about forty different sets. Swift.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Definition: A Mass for a deceased person or for some special object, said daily for a year or on the anniversary day.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition