year 
/ˈjiɚ/ noun
plural years /ˈjiɚ/ noun [count] 1 : a unit of time that is equal to 12 months or 365 or sometimes 366 days
▪ I haven't seen her in a year. ▪ He quit smoking six years ago. ▪ The job pays $45,000 a/per year. ▪ She renews her lease every year. ▪ We see them once or twice a year. ▪ It feels like we've been standing in line for a year. ▪ That team hasn't won in years. ▪ It's been years since I've been on an airplane. ▪ The camp has changed a lot over the years. [=during several/some/many years] ▪ The tree grows taller year by year. = The tree grows taller each year. = The tree grows taller as the years go by. ▪ The park is open all year round. = The park is open the entire year. — see also calendar year, donkey's years, fiscal year, gap year, leap year 2 : the regular period of 12 months that begins in January and ends in December
▪ The work should be done by the end of the year. ▪ She was born in the year 1967. ▪ The volcano erupted in the year 44 B.C. ▪ In what year was the car made? ▪ They got married last year. [=during the year before this one] ▪ He will retire next year. [=during the year after this one] ▪ the movie/teacher/rookie of the year [=the best movie/teacher/rookie in a specific year] 3 — used to refer to the age of a person ▪ She is 14 years old. ▪ the teenage years [=the ages 13 through 19] ▪ a six-year-old boy ▪ He is getting on in years. [=he is getting old] ▪ She looks young/old for her years. [=she looks younger/older than she is] 4 : a period of time when a particular event, process, activity, etc., happens or is done
▪ The school year runs from September to June. [=the school operates from September to June] ▪ The fiscal year begins in October and ends in September. ▪ This will be a great year [=harvest season] for peaches. ▪ The pitcher is having his best year [=season] ever. ▪ She took geometry (during) her sophomore year. ▪ first- and second-year students
▪ I haven't seen her in a year. ▪ He quit smoking six years ago. ▪ The job pays $45,000 a/per year. ▪ She renews her lease every year. ▪ We see them once or twice a year. ▪ It feels like we've been standing in line for a year. ▪ That team hasn't won in years. ▪ It's been years since I've been on an airplane. ▪ The camp has changed a lot over the years. [=during several/some/many years] ▪ The tree grows taller year by year. = The tree grows taller each year. = The tree grows taller as the years go by. ▪ The park is open all year round. = The park is open the entire year. — see also calendar year, donkey's years, fiscal year, gap year, leap year
▪ The work should be done by the end of the year. ▪ She was born in the year 1967. ▪ The volcano erupted in the year 44 B.C. ▪ In what year was the car made? ▪ They got married last year. [=during the year before this one] ▪ He will retire next year. [=during the year after this one] ▪ the movie/teacher/rookie of the year [=the best movie/teacher/rookie in a specific year]
▪ The school year runs from September to June. [=the school operates from September to June] ▪ The fiscal year begins in October and ends in September. ▪ This will be a great year [=harvest season] for peaches. ▪ The pitcher is having his best year [=season] ever. ▪ She took geometry (during) her sophomore year. ▪ first- and second-year students
glory years — see 1glory
in the year of our Lord
formal — used before a year to say that it is after the birth of Jesus Christ ▪ The couple married on this day in the year of our Lord 2005.
never/not in a thousand/million/billion years
informal — used as a strong way of saying that something is extremely unlikely or impossible ▪ Never in a million years did I think she would quit her job. [=I never thought that she would quit her job] ▪ He will never change his mind. Not in a million years.
put years on
: to cause (someone) to look or feel older
▪ That job has really put some years on him.
▪ That job has really put some years on him.
since (the) year one (US) or Brit since the year dot
informal : for a very long time : since a time in the distant past
▪ That monument has been there since the year one.
▪ That monument has been there since the year one.
take years off
: to cause someone to look or feel younger
▪ Not only has the diet improved how she feels, but it's also taken years off (her appearance).
▪ Not only has the diet improved how she feels, but it's also taken years off (her appearance).
vintage year — see 1vintage
