From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishperiodpe‧ri‧od1 /ˈpɪəriəd $ ˈpɪr-/ ●●● S1 W1 AWL noun [countable] 1 length of timePERIOD OF TIME a particular length of time with a beginning and an end Tomorrow’s weather will be dry with sunny periods.period of His playing improved in a very short period of time. a brief period of silence The drug was tested over a five-week period. They adopted the system for a trial period (=time in which something is tested to see if it works well).2 life/history a particular time in someone’s life or in history → era the conflict of the Cold War period Van Gogh’s early period the Jurassic period the behaviour of children during the period of adolescence3 bloodHBH the flow of blood that comes from a woman’s body each month → menstrual period I was 12 years old when I started my periods.4 mark American EnglishSLA the mark (.) used in writing to show the end of a sentence or of an abbreviation SYN full stop British English5 schoolSES one of the equal parts that the school day is divided into SYN lesson British English What class do you have first period?period of a double period of Science 6 sports one of the equal parts that a game is divided into in a sport such as ice hockey The Bruins scored twice in the first period.7 → period!COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + perioda long/lengthy periodThey had to spend long periods apart.a short/brief periodHe lived for a short period in Manchester.a limited period (=a fairly short length of time)From May, the site will be open to the public for a limited period.a fixed/set period (=that will not be changed)A tourist visa allows you to stay for a fixed period.an indefinite period (=with no fixed end)The painting had been loaned to the gallery for an indefinite period.a six month/five year etc periodThey studied the behaviour of the ocean during a five year period.a trial period (=a time in which you try something to see if it is good)We could introduce the system for a trial period.phrasesa period of timeOver a period of time, this pressure can damage the fibres of the carpet. THESAURUSa period in historyperiod a particular time in history, especially one studied as a subjectthe late Victorian periodthe interwar periodDuring that period many people moved from the countryside to the towns.time a period of years, months, days etcThe 1960s were a time of great social change.the biggest earthquake in modern timesVerdun was an important city in Roman times.age a long period, especially one that represents a particular stage in the development of civilization or technologythe industrial ageWe are now in the age of the Internet.the Stone Age (=when people used tools made of stone)era a long period that has a particular character or that is marked by particular eventsWe live in an era of breathtaking change.the post-war eraDe Gaulle’s death marked the end of an era.epoch /ˈiːpɒk $ ˈepək/ formal means the same as era, but sounds more formal and importantWe are now entering a new epoch in human history.the colonial epochIt was the end of an epoch.
Examples from the Corpus
period• These accounts are drawn up for a period of 52 weeks.• The restoration of the ceiling was completed over a period of two years.• He did not receive offers from any other club during the free-agency period.• Anne had difficulty holding down a job for any period of time.• After a brief period of independence, Belorussia came under Soviet rule.• He later served as their music instructor for a brief period during the brothers' high school years.• the Byzantine period, between the fourth and seventh centuries A.D.• The researchers observed mothers and their new infants for a three-day period.• On Monday mornings there was French, English, and then a double period of maths.• "Siesta" is the best example of work from Storni's early period.• At our school we have four periods in the morning and three in the afternoon.• If we are indeed in such a digestive, living-with-it, period it would explain something which is otherwise puzzling.• The work had to be completed within a limited period of time.• Aerobic exercise is characterized by the body using large muscle groups in rhythmical continuous activity for relatively long periods of time.• The company expects a growth in profitability over a longer period.• The loan has to be repaid over a 15-month period.• This chapter will focus primarily on the Neolithic period in Europe.• Each team started slowly offensively before catching fire in the final seven minutes of the opening period.• Many of Britain's roads were built originally in the Roman period.• Mike's taking Spanish second period.• Then, within a short period, his mother, father, and brother all died.• During this period, Tanya was making very little money.• Within this period, the most significant day is Christmas Eve.• A five-day waiting period is required to purchase a handgun.• black immigration into Britain during the post-war period• The money can be paid back over a five-year period.period of• Cleve went through several periods of depression.started ... periods• Some do not realise that they are pregnant at all, like Lorraine, who had never even started her periods.• Could I have started my periods without knowing?• Can my daughter, who started her periods, use tampons? period!period!American English spokenEMPHASIZE used to emphasize that you have made a decision and that you do not want to discuss the subject any more SYN full stop! I’m not going, period! → periodExamples from the Corpus
period!• I'm not giving them any more money, period!periodperiod2 adjective → period costume/furniture etcExamples from the Corpus
period• Decor includes period furniture and contemporary art.• There was period furniture which looked as if it had always been in place and big log fires.• They haven't attempted to create period rooms, and they don't have the big architectural framework of our museum.From Longman Business Dictionaryperiodpe‧ri‧od /ˈpɪəriədˈpɪr-/ noun [countable] a particular length of timeShe has been taken on for a 6-month trial period. → accounting period → control period → cooling-off period → deferment period → earn-out period → payback period → pay period → qualifying period → recovery period → reporting periodOrigin period1 (1300-1400) French période, from Latin, from Greek, from peri- (PERICARDIUM) + hodos “way” 