permanent
♦ per|ma|nent /p'ɜːrmənənt/ (permanents)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is permanent lasts for ever.
Heavy drinking can cause permanent damage to the brain...
The ban is intended to be permanent.
≠ temporary
● permanently [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj
His reason had been permanently affected by what he had witnessed...
≠ temporarily
● permanence [N-UNCOUNT]
Anything which threatens the permanence of the treaty is a threat to peace.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use permanent to describe situations or states that keep occurring or which seem to exist all the time; used especially to describe problems or difficulties.
...a permanent state of tension...
They feel under permanent threat...
= constant
● permanently [ADV]
...the heavy, permanently locked gate.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
A permanent employee is one who is employed for an unlimited length of time.
...a permanent job.
≠ temporary
● permanently [ADV] ADV with v
...permanently employed registered dockers.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Your permanent home or your permanent address is the one at which you spend most of your time or the one that you return to after having stayed in other places.
York Cottage was as near to a permanent home as the children knew...
5 [N-COUNT]
A permanent is a treatment where a hair stylist curls your hair and treats it with a chemical so that it stays curly for several months. (AM; in BRIT, use perm)per|ma|nent wave (permanent waves)
[N-COUNT]
A permanent wave is the same as a perm. (OLD-FASHIONED)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is permanent lasts for ever.
Heavy drinking can cause permanent damage to the brain...
The ban is intended to be permanent.
≠ temporary
● permanently [ADV] ADV with v, ADV adj
His reason had been permanently affected by what he had witnessed...
≠ temporarily
● permanence [N-UNCOUNT]
Anything which threatens the permanence of the treaty is a threat to peace.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
You use permanent to describe situations or states that keep occurring or which seem to exist all the time; used especially to describe problems or difficulties.
...a permanent state of tension...
They feel under permanent threat...
= constant
● permanently [ADV]
...the heavy, permanently locked gate.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
A permanent employee is one who is employed for an unlimited length of time.
...a permanent job.
≠ temporary
● permanently [ADV] ADV with v
...permanently employed registered dockers.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Your permanent home or your permanent address is the one at which you spend most of your time or the one that you return to after having stayed in other places.
York Cottage was as near to a permanent home as the children knew...
5 [N-COUNT]
A permanent is a treatment where a hair stylist curls your hair and treats it with a chemical so that it stays curly for several months. (AM; in BRIT, use perm)per|ma|nent wave (permanent waves)
[N-COUNT]
A permanent wave is the same as a perm. (OLD-FASHIONED)