annual

Everyday

1. Happening once every year: our annual sports day. tree →
2. For a whole year: annual rainfall, annual salary. tree →
3. (noun) A plant that grows, flowers and dies in one year. tree →
4. (noun, UK) A thick book for children, often with comics and puzzles, that comes out once a year. tree →

In the lessons

In maths "annual" turns into numbers: an annual cost is for 12 months, so divide by 12 for a month or multiply by years. In science annual rainfall and annual plants appear; in everyday life annual events, check-ups and holidays. Phrases: annual event, annual report, annual leave, per annum (formal).

Examples

• Our school has an annual sports day. tree →
• The annual rainfall here is about 600 mm. tree →
• Marigolds are annuals, so we plant new ones each spring. tree →
• An annual ticket costs 120 dollars, which is 10 dollars a month. tree →
• Grandad gave me a comic annual for my birthday. tree →
• The dog has its annual check-up at the vet. tree →
• (formal) Ascertain the annual total from the monthly figures. tree →
• Annual festivals, called Veneralia, were held in her honour, and the month of April, when flowers and plants spring forth afresh, was sacred to her. tree →

Note

Adverb: annually (once a year). "Annual" means once a year; "biannual" means twice a year; "biennial" means every two years. Maths: annual = for one year, so a monthly 15 is an annual 180 (15 x 12).