ˈpə:mənənt adj.
lasting, or
intended to last or
function,
indefinitely (opp. TEMPORARY). øpermanent
magnet a magnet retaining
its magnetic properties
without continued
excitation. Permanent
Secretary (or
Under-secretary etc.)
Brit. a
senior grade in
the Civil Service,
often a permanent
adviser to a
minister. permanent set 1 the
irreversible deformation of a
substance after being subjected to
stress. 2 the
amount of
this. permanent
tooth a tooth succeeding a
milk tooth in a
mammal,
and lasting
most of the mammal's
life. permanent
wave an
artificial wave in the
hair, intended to last
for some time. permanent
way Brit. the finished
roadbed of a
railway. øøpermanence n. permanency n. permanentize v.tr. (also -ise). permanently adv. [ME f. OF permanent or L permanere (as
PER-, manere remain)]