season

Everyday

1. A season is one of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn (fall in the USA and Canada) and winter. tree →
2. A season is also a time of year when something happens: the rainy season, the football season, the holiday season. tree →
3. To season food means to add salt, pepper, herbs or spices to give it flavour. tree →
4. To season wood means to dry it out over time so it is ready to use. tree →

In the lessons

In science the seasons happen because the Earth is tilted as it goes around the Sun; when one hemisphere leans towards the Sun it has summer. In the Northern Hemisphere (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada) summer is in the middle of the year; in Australia and New Zealand the seasons are the other way round. Near the equator there are often a wet season and a dry season. Phrases: in season, out of season, the festive season, season ticket, rainy season.

Examples

• There are four seasons in a year. tree →
• My favourite season is autumn, when the leaves turn orange. tree →
• In Australia, Christmas comes in the summer season. tree →
• Strawberries are in season in summer. tree →
• The football season starts again soon. tree →
• Some countries near the equator have a rainy season and a dry season. tree →
• Dad seasoned the soup with salt and pepper. tree →
• Each season lasts about three months. tree →
• Rails split 'fo' bre'kfus'll season de dinner. tree →

Note

Names of seasons are not written with a capital letter in English (summer, winter). «Autumn» is the usual word in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand; «fall» in the USA and Canada. Myth: summer is not warmer because the Earth is closer to the Sun; it is because of the Earth's tilt. In maths problems: 4 seasons in a year, about 3 months each.

In Jewish tradition

"Season" often means the fixed, appointed time of a festival, set by God. In Job and the psalms it also means the times set in nature, such as the moon's seasons and the stars in their season.

Interpretation. The "appointed seasons" (moadim) are the festivals such as Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, kept at their proper times each year. The Jewish calendar is arranged so they fall in the right season. The psalm about the moon is read as the basis of the Jewish month, which follows the moon.

Examples

• 'Let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season. (Torah NUM.9.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. (Torah EXO.13.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the appointed seasons of the LORD. (Torah LEV.23.44, JPS 1917) tree →
• Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? (Writings JOB.38.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who appointedst the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. (Writings PSA.104.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• To declare Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness in the night seasons, (Writings PSA.92.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Names of seasons are not written with a capital letter in English (summer, winter). «Autumn» is the usual word in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand; «fall» in the USA and Canada. Myth: summer is not warmer because the Earth is closer to the Sun; it is because of the Earth's tilt. In maths problems: 4 seasons in a year, about 3 months each.