n.
Pronunciation: ' pir- ē - ə d
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English periode, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, Latin, & Greek; Medieval Latin periodus period of time, punctuation mark, from Latin & Greek; Latin, rhetorical period, from Greek periodos circuit, period of time, rhetorical period, from peri- + hodos way
Date: circa 1530
1 : the completion of a cycle, a series of events, or a single action : CONCLUSION
2 a (1) : an utterance from one full stop to another : SENTENCE (2) : a well-proportioned sentence of several clauses (3) : PERIODIC SENTENCE b : a musical structure or melodic section usually composed of two or more contrasting or complementary phrases and ending with a cadence
3 a : the full pause with which the utterance of a sentence closes b : END , STOP
4 obsolete : GOAL , PURPOSE
5 a (1) : a point . used to mark the end (as of a declarative sentence or an abbreviation) (2) ― used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement <I don't remember period > b : a rhythmical unit in Greek verse composed of a series of two or more cola
6 a : a portion of time determined by some recurring phenomenon b (1) : the interval of time required for a cyclic motion or phenomenon to complete a cycle and begin to repeat itself (2) : a number k that does not change the value of a periodic function f when added to the independent variable especially : the smallest such number c : a single cyclic occurrence of menstruation
7 a : a chronological division : STAGE b : a division of geologic time longer than an epoch and included in an era c : a stage of culture having a definable place in time and space
8 a : one of the divisions of the academic day b : one of the divisions of the playing time of a game
synonyms PERIOD , EPOCH , ERA , AGE mean a division of time. PERIOD may designate an extent of time of any length < periods of economic prosperity>. EPOCH applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events <the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry>. ERA suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things <the era of global communications>. AGE is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature <the age of Samuel Johnson>.