biennial
nounEtymology Borrowed from Latin bienni(um) (“two-year period”) [from bis, bi- (“twice”) + annus (“year”)] + -al (suffix forming adjectives). By surface analysis, bi- + -ennial.
1
A plant that requires two years to complete its life-cycle, germinating and growing in its first year, then producing its flowers and fruit in its second year, after which it usually dies.
2
An event that happens every two years.
- The famous Biennial was won by Earl of Dartrey, a light, peacocky horse, who was, perhaps, better than he looked.1891, Sir George Chetwynd, Racing Reminiscences and Experiences of the Turf, page 122:
- Related terms
- annual, triennial, quadrennial, quinquennial, sexennial, septennial, octennial, novennial, decennial, vicennial, centennial, bicentennial, quincentennial, millennial, perennial