persistent: Meaning and Definition of

per•sist•ent

Pronunciation: (pur-sis'tunt, -zis'-), [key]
— adj.
  1. persisting, esp. in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering: a most annoyingly persistent young man.
  2. lasting or enduring tenaciously: the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.
  3. constantly repeated; continued: persistent noise.
    1. continuing or permanent.
    2. having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.
  4. remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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