(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a length of time.
This crisis might last for a long ~ of time.
...a ~ of a few months.
...for a limited ~ only.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
A ~ in the life of a person, organization, or society is a length of time which is remembered for a particular situation or activity.
...a ~ of economic good health and expansion...
He went through a ~ of wanting to be accepted...
The South African years were his most creative ~.
N-COUNT: with supp
3.
A particular length of time in history is sometimes called a ~. For example, you can talk about the Victorian ~ or the Elizabethan ~ in Britain.
...the Roman ~...
No reference to their existence appears in any literature of the ~.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
4.
Period costumes, furniture, and instruments were made at an earlier time in history, or look as if they were made then.
...dressed in full ~ costume.
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
Exercise, training, or study ~s are lengths of time that are set aside for exercise, training, or study.
They accompanied him during his exercise ~s.
N-COUNT: usu n N
6.
At a school or college, a ~ is one of the parts that the day is divided into during which lessons or other activities take place.
...~s of private study.
N-COUNT
7.
When a woman has a ~, she bleeds from her womb. This usually happens once a month, unless she is pregnant.
N-COUNT
8.
Some people say ~ after stating a fact or opinion when they want to emphasize that they are definite about something and do not want to discuss it further.
I don’t want to do it, ~.
ADV: cl ADV emphasis
9.
A ~ is the punctuation mark () which you use at the end of a sentence when it is not a question or an exclamation. (AM; in BRIT, use full stop )
N-COUNT