biennial

Borrowed from Latin bienni(um) (“two-year period”) [from bis, bi- (“twice”) + annus (“year”)] + -al (suffix forming adjectives). By surface analysis, bi- +‎ -ennial.

• IPA^(key): /baɪˈɛn.i.əl/

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• Rhymes: -ɛniəl

biennial (not comparable)

1. Happening every two years.
2. Lasting for two years.

• biennary (uncommon); biannual (proscribed)

• biennium
• biennially
• biannual, semiannual

biennial (plural biennials)

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.
   • 1891, Sir George Chetwynd, Racing Reminiscences and Experiences of the Turf, page 122:

     The famous Biennial was won by Earl of Dartrey, a light, peacocky horse, who was, perhaps, better than he looked.

• annual, triennial, quadrennial, quinquennial, sexennial, septennial, octennial, novennial, decennial, vicennial, centennial, bicentennial, quincentennial, millennial, perennial