HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY
To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.
Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.
THE USAGE PANEL
The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP
The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG
The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.
INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?
Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com
n. 1. a. One of the four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter, in the North and South Temperate zones. Each season, beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, is characterized by specific meteorological or climatic conditions. b. The two divisions of the year, rainy and dry, in some tropical regions. 2. A recurrent period characterized by certain occurrences, occupations, festivities, or crops: the holiday season; tomato season. 3. A suitable, natural, or convenient time: a season for merriment. 4. A period of time: gone for a season. v. sea·soned, sea·son·ing, sea·sons v.tr. 1. To improve or enhance the flavor of (food) by adding salt, spices, herbs, or other flavorings. 2. To add zest, piquancy, or interest to: seasoned the lecture with jokes. 3. To treat or dry (lumber, for example) until ready for use; cure. 4. To render competent through trial and experience: a lawyer who had been seasoned by years in the trial courts. 6. To moderate; temper. v.intr. Idioms: To become usable, competent, or tempered. in season 1. Available or ready for eating or other use. 2. Legally permitted to be caught or hunted during a specified period. 3. At the right moment; opportunely. 4. In heat. Used of animals. out of season 1. Not available, permitted, or ready to be eaten, caught, or hunted. 2. Not at the right or proper moment; inopportunely. [Middle English, from Old French seison, from Latin satiō, satiōn-, act of sowing, from satus, past participle of serere, to plant; see sē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
