(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
The ~s are the main periods into which a year can be divided and which each have their own typical weather conditions.
Autumn’s my favourite ~.
...the only region of Brazil where all four ~s are clearly defined.
...the rainy ~.
N-COUNT: usu with supp
2.
You can use ~ to refer to the period during each year when a particular activity or event takes place. For example, the planting ~ is the period when a particular plant or crop is planted.
...birds arriving for the breeding ~...
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu the -ing N
3.
You can use ~ to refer to the period when a particular fruit, vegetable, or other food is ready for eating and is widely available.
The plum ~ is about to begin...
Now British asparagus is in ~.
N-COUNT: n N, also in/out of N
4.
You can use ~ to refer to a fixed period during each year when a particular sport is played.
...the baseball ~...
It is his first race this ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp
5.
A ~ is a period in which a play or show, or a series of plays or shows, is performed in one place.
...a ~ of three new plays.
N-COUNT: with supp
6.
A ~ of films is several of them shown as a series because they are connected in some way.
...a brief ~ of films in which Artaud appeared.
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with supp
7.
The holiday or vacation ~ is the time when most people have their holiday.
...the peak holiday ~...
There are discos and clubs but these are often closed out of ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu supp N, also in/out of N
8.
If you ~ food with salt, pepper, or spices, you add them to it in order to improve its flavour.
Season the meat with salt and pepper...
I believe in ~ing food before putting it on the table.
VERB: V n with n, V n
9.
If wood is ~ed, it is made suitable for making into furniture or for burning, usually by being allowed to dry out gradually.
Ensure that new wood has been ~ed.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed
10.
see also ~ed , ~ing
11.
If a female animal is in ~, she is in a state where she is ready to have sex.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR