biennial
    adj 1: having a life cycle lasting two seasons; "a biennial life
           cycle"; "parsnips and carrots are biennial plants often
           grown as annuals" [syn: biennial, two-year] [ant:
           annual, one-year, perennial]
    2: occurring every second year; "they met at biennial
       conventions" [syn: biennial, biyearly]
    n 1: (botany) a plant having a life cycle that normally takes
         two seasons from germination to death to complete;
         flowering biennials usually bloom and fruit in the second
         season

Cyclic \Cyc"lic\ (s?k"l?k or s?"kl?k), Cyclical \Cyc"lic*al\
   (s?k"l?-kal), a. [Cf. F. cycluque, Gr. kykliko`s, fr. ky`klos
   See Cycle.]
   1. Of or pertaining to a cycle or circle; moving in cycles;
      as, cyclical time. --Coleridge.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chemistry) Having atoms bonded to form a ring structure.
      Opposite of acyclic.

   Note: Used most commonly in respect to organic compounds.

   Note: [Narrower terms: bicyclic; heterocyclic;
         homocyclic, isocyclic]

   Syn: closed-chain, closed-ring.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   3. Recurring in cycles[2]; having a pattern that repeats at
      approximately equal intervals; periodic. Opposite of
      noncyclic.

   Note: [Narrower terms: alternate(prenominal),
         alternating(prenominal); alternate(prenominal), every
         other(prenominal), every second(prenominal);
         alternating(prenominal), oscillating(prenominal);
         biyearly; circadian exhibiting 24-hour
         periodicity); circular; daily, diurnal;
         fortnightly, biweekly; hourly; midweek,
         midweekly; seasonal; semestral, semestrial;
         semiannual, biannual, biyearly; semiweekly,
         biweekly; weekly; annual, yearly; biennial;
         bimonthly, bimestrial; half-hourly; half-yearly;
         monthly; tertian, alternate(prenominal);
         triennial]
         [WordNet 1.5]

   4. Marked by repeated cycles[2].
      [WordNet 1.5]

   Cyclic chorus, the chorus which performed the songs and
      dances of the dithyrambic odes at Athens, dancing round
      the altar of Bacchus in a circle.

   Cyclic poets, certain epic poets who followed Homer, and
      wrote merely on the Trojan war and its heroes; -- so
      called because keeping within the circle of a single
      subject. Also, any series or coterie of poets writing on
      one subject. --Milman.
      [1913 Webster]

Biennial \Bi*en"ni*al\, a. [L. biennalis and biennis, fr.
   biennium a space of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf.
   Annual.]
   1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a
      biennial election.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as
      plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and
      produce fruit the second.
      [1913 Webster]

Biennial \Bi*en"ni*al\, n.
   1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years;
      esp. a biennial examination.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) A plant which exists or lasts for two years.
      [1913 Webster]