permanent: Meaning and Definition of

per•ma•nent

Pronunciation: (pûr'mu-nunt), [key]
— adj.
  1. existing perpetually; everlasting, esp. without significant change.
  2. intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions: a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.
  3. long-lasting or nonfading: permanent pleating; permanent ink.
—n.
  1. Also calleda wave or curl that is set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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