summer

plural summers · alternative obsolete pronunciation spelling somer · alternative obsolete sommer

1. countableuncountableOne of four seasons, traditionally the second, marked by the longest and typically hottest days of the year due to the inclination of the Earth and thermal lag. Typically regarded as spanning either the period between the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox, or the months of June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere and the months of December, January and February in the Southern Hemisphere.

   the heat of summer

   5 more examples

   Gradually, the end of summer hove into sight.

   I'm going to the Gambia in the summer.

   At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.

   1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

   A chap named Eleazir Kendrick and I had chummed in together the summer afore and built a fish-weir and shanty at Setuckit Point, down Orham way. For a spell we done pretty well.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed. ¶ ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’[…]‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

2. countablehumorouspoeticuncountableyear; used to give the age of a person, usually a young one.

   He was barely eighteen summers old.

   1 more example

   She had seen not more than twenty summers.

3. countablefigurativelyuncountableMost flourishing, happy, or beautiful period; golden age, prime.

   O! craving heart, for the lost flowers And sunshine of my summer hours!

   1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems

   1 more example

   Here we are in our summer years / Livin' on ice cream and chocolate kisses / Would the leaves fall from the trees / If I was your old man and you was my missus

   1986, Billy Bragg, “Greetings to the New Brunette”, in Talking with the Taxman About Poetry, track 1

4. countablefashionSomeone with light, pinkish skin that has a blue undertone, light hair and eyes, seen as best suited to certain colors of clothing.

present singular third person summers · participle present summering · participle past summered · past summered · alternative obsolete pronunciation spelling somer · alternative obsolete sommer

1. intransitiveTo spend the summer, as in a particular place on holiday.

   She had summered in England and France and Germany and Switzerland. She had wintered in Italy and Egypt and India and Spain.

   1930, Margaret Ayer Barnes, Years of Grace, Part III, Chapter II, page 282

   1 more example

   For he was an oddity, a black multimillionaire who summered on the Riviera, had an apartment in Paris and a penthouse, in a building he owned, high above Sugar Hill.

   1970, Wally Ferris, Across 110th, page 228

plural summers

1. architectureA horizontal beam supporting a building.

   And we are warned, that the foundation or maine summers of our houses faile and shrinke, when we see the quarters bend, or wals to breake.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 43, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 146

   Synonyms: summerbeam, summertree

2. obsoleteA pack-horse.

plural summers

1. A person who sums.
2. A machine or algorithm that sums.

   The output of the summer is therefore fed into the input of the first integrator.

   2016, George H. Olsen, Ian Burdess, Computers and Microprocessors: Made Simple, page 36

   1 more example

   A basic feedback system consists of ... and a summing point (comparator or summer).

   2014, Michael R. Lindeburg, chapter 48, in FE Mechanical Review Manual, page 2

   Synonyms: totaller

plural Summers · alternative Simmer

1. A female given name from English of modern usage, from summer, the name of the season, often given to girls born in summer.
2. A surname.

plural Summers · alternative Simmer

1. archaiccountablepoeticuncountableAlternative letter-case form of summer.

   In the good old Summer time you need pack-away space and plenty of it.

   1903, The Unitarian Register - Volume 82, page 872

   5 more examples

   I am very prodigall of cappings, namely in Summer, and I never receive any from what quality of men ſoever, but I giue them as good and as many as they bring, except he be ſome ſervant of mine.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of Presumption”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 368

   Notwithstanding the tristness of the town, there are many visitors during the Summer who come for quiet and economy.

   1844, Charles Wilkes, “Jaunt into Pennsylvania”, in William James Morgan, David B. Tyler, Joye L. Leonhart, Mary F. Loughlin, editors, Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, U. S. Navy 1798–1877, Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division, Department of the Navy/U.S. Government Printing Office, published 1978, page 570

   Light limp caps of woollen, with brood visors, or broad-brimmed (but not too broad,) felt hats; double-breasted coats, so made that they can be worn open in warm weather, and will really protect the chest in a lower temperature; trowsers of the same, and under these, light flannel shirts and drawers; such are the proper materials for a soldier’s dress, even in the Summer months.

   1861 May 1, “Volunteer Uniforms”, in The New York Times, volume X, number 3000, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Sep 2025, page 4, column 6

   In early Summer, several years ago, we were ornithologizing in a beautiful clump of natural wood along a steep brae face, so well sheltered from the north and east, and with so sunny and southern an aspect, that it had been known to us for years as the very paradise of all sorts of singing birds in the nesting season.

   1883 November 8, “Weasel and Hare”, in South-Western Presbyterian, volume XV, number 40, New Orleans, La., page 3, column 5

   As we approached Ialta, the Czar’s favorite Summer resort, which is nestled snugly in the well-wooded mountains, and has its long esplanade lined with shops, which hang out over the very blue bay, the little old Caucasan gentleman, by signs and looks of intelligence, in some way made us understand that he would like to take us ashore to see the sights.

   1902 October 19, “A Woman’s Wanderings Through the Caucasus […]”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC