"lasting for two years" (1620s); "occurring every two years" (1750), from Latin biennium "two-year period," from bi- (see bi-) + annus "year" (see annual). The vowel change is "due to the Latin phonetic law according to which the unaccented and closed radical syllable of the second element of compounds, original -ă- becomes -ĕ-" [Klein]. The noun meaning "a biennial plant" is attested by 1770.
双语例句
1. The workers were strongly against the biennial election.
工人们强烈反对两年一次的选举.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. It may subsequently become a weak grower and a distinctly biennial cropper.
随后会引起树势衰弱,明显两年结一次果.
来自辞典例句
3. If the biennial cycle is broken for one year the trees normally bear annual crops subsequently.
如果一年里打破了大小年的循环周期,植株以后就可正常结果.
来自辞典例句
4. His is a biennial, and one of the most useful pasture plants we have.
这是两年生植物, 也是我们最有用的牧草之一.
来自辞典例句
5. European biennial widely cultivated for its blue or violet or white flowers.
