I. ˈanyə(wə)l adjective
Etymology: Middle English annuel, annual, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French annuel, from Late Latin annualis, blend of Latin annuus yearly (from annus year) and Latin annalis yearly (from annus year + -alis -al); akin to Gothic athnam (dative plural) years, Sanskrit atati he walks, goes
1.
a. : reckoned by the year
annual value of coffee exports
b. : covering the period of a year : based on a year
an annual total
annual statistics
annual rainfall
2. : occurring, appearing, made, done, or acted upon every year or once a year
an annual event
an annual magazine
an annual visit
3. : completing the life cycle in one growing season : lasting one year or growing season
an annual plant
— compare biennial , perennial
• an·nu·al·ly -)lē, -i adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a publication appearing yearly and often treating of matters of interest in a year just past
editor of the high-school annual
specifically : a publication appearing as one of a series published to meet a yearly seasonal market
a children's Christmas annual
b. : giftbook 2
2. : a yearly event ; specifically : an annual exhibition of paintings or sculpture
3. : something that lasts one year or season ; specifically : a plant that completes its growth in one growing season