n.
Pronunciation: ' s ē -z ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sesoun, from Anglo-French seison natural season, appropriate time, from Latin sation-, satio action of sowing, from serere to sow ― more at SOW
Date: 14th century
1 a : a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature <in a season of religious awakening ― F. A. Christie> b : a suitable or natural time or occasion <when my season comes to sit on David's throne ― John Milton> c : an indefinite period of time : WHILE <sent home again to her father for a season ― Francis Hackett>
2 a : a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon <hay fever season >: as (1) : a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture (as growth or harvesting) (2) : a period in which an animal engages in some activity (as migrating or mating) also : ESTRUS , HEAT (3) : the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather <a long rainy season > (4) : a period marked by special activity especially in some field <tourist season > <hunting season > (5) : a period in which a place is most frequented b : one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided c : the time of a major holiday
3 : YEAR <a boy of seven season s >
4 [Middle English sesoun, from sesounen to season] : SEASONING
5 : the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season <got through the season undefeated>
6 : OFF-SEASON <closed for the season >
– in season
1 : at the right time
2 : at the stage of greatest fitness (as for eating) <peaches are in season >
3 : legally available to be hunted or caught
– out of season : not in season