[ jɪə , jə: ]
■ noun
1》 the time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun.
2》 (also calendar ~ or civil ~ ) the period of 365 days (or 366 days in leap ~s) starting from the first of January, used for reckoning time in ordinary affairs.
↘a period of the same length as this starting at a different point.
↘a similar period used for reckoning time according to other calendars.
3》 ( one's ~s ) one's age or time of life.
4》 ( ~s ) informal a very long time.
5》 a set of students grouped together as being of roughly similar ages.
Phrases
in the ~ of grace (or Our Lord ) —— in the ~ —— AD. [ ~ of grace from med. L. anno gratiae , used by chroniclers.]
a ~ and a day the period specified in some legal matters to ensure the completion of a full ~.
~ in, ~ out continuously or repeatedly over a period of ~s.
Origin
OE gē(a)r , of Gmc origin.