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season

nounverb

SEASON meaning: a division of the year or a recurring period; the six-letter word scores 6 in Scrabble and has one listed anagram.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. Each of the divisions of a year based on the prevailing weather: spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter; or the rainy (monsoon) and dry season, depending on the climate.

  2. A period of the year when something particular happens.

    “mating season”

  3. A period of the year in which a place is most busy or frequented for business, amusement, etc.

  4. A year, but with emphasis on the most important part of the year in context, such as the months when plants or animals grow and reproduce.

    “This invasive species reproduces so rapidly that it can completely take over an area in just a couple seasons.”

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To habituate, accustom, or inure (someone or something) to a particular use, purpose, or circumstance.

    “to season oneself to a climate”

  2. To prepare by drying or hardening, or removal of natural juices.

    “The timber needs to be seasoned.”

  3. To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate.

  4. To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance.

    “The wood has seasoned in the sun.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English sesoun, seson (“time of the year”), from Old French seson, saison (“time of sowing, seeding”), from Latin satiō (“act of sowing, planting”) from satum, past participle of serō (“to sow, plant”) from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- (“to sow, plant”). Akin to Old English sāwan (“to sow”), sǣd (“seed”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
yeartideyeartimetimeseriesdesiccatedehydrateexiccatefordry

SEASON names a stretch of the year defined by weather, such as spring or winter, and it also means a period when an activity or place is especially busy. Its uses range from a rainy season to a sports season or tourist season. That familiar double sense fits both calendar clues and clues about a recurring busy period.

SEASON at a glance

  • SEASON has 6 letters and is worth 6 points before board premiums.
  • Each tile is worth 1 point, so the total adds up to six ones.
  • Its one listed anagram is NAOSES, a much less familiar arrangement of the same letters.
  • Four one-letter neighbours are REASON, WEASON, PEASON and GEASON; REASON is the familiar one.

What does SEASON mean?

SEASON has two everyday senses: one of the year's weather divisions, and a period when something happens or a place becomes busy. The definition also covers rainy and dry seasons, so the word is not limited to the four familiar weather divisions.

In phrases such as planting season or tourist season, the word marks a recurring time rather than a strict calendar quarter. A season can be set by weather, work, travel or another activity, not just spring, summer, autumn and winter.

How many points is SEASON in Scrabble?

SEASON scores 6 points in Scrabble because S, E, A, S, O and N are each worth 1. A premium square can raise the play's value; count any letter bonus first, then apply a word multiplier under your game's rules.

With no high-value tile in its rack, SEASON's score depends more on placement than on letter values. Compare available board lanes before committing: its six ones make the tile sum simple, while premium squares provide the bigger scoring opportunity.

The matching -son ending has 12 recorded rhymes, including PERSON, REASON, LESSON and POISON. REASON also appears among SEASON's four one-letter neighbours: changing the first tile creates a familiar six-letter word while keeping the rest in place.

Rhymes with season

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • REASON6
  • WEASON9
  • PEASON8
  • GEASON7

Questions people ask

Is SEASON accepted in Scrabble?
Yes. SEASON appears in Collins, NWL2023 and ENABLE, and its face value is 6 points. The word uses six tiles worth 1 point each, so its base score is straightforward; any board premiums are added according to the rules of your game.
Does SEASON have an anagram?
Yes. NAOSES is the single listed anagram of SEASON, using the same letters A, E, N, O, S and S. It is far less familiar than the original word, so check your game's word list before playing it.
What does SEASON mean besides a time of year?
SEASON can mean a period when a particular activity happens or a place is especially busy. A tourist season, for example, is a time of increased visits; a planting season marks a recurring period for work rather than one of the year's weather divisions.

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