Tran"sient (?), a. [L. transiens, - entis, p. pr. of transire, transitum, to go or pass over. See Trance.] 1. Passing before the sight or perception, or, as it were, moving over or across a space or scene viewed, and then disappearing; hence, of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable; not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as, transient pleasure. "Measured this transient world." Milton.

2. Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape.

3. Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a transient guest; transient boarders. [Colloq. U. S.]

Syn. -- Transient, Transitory, Fleeting. Transient represents a thing as brief at the best; transitory, as liable at any moment to pass away. Fleeting goes further, and represents it as in the act of taking its flight. Life is transient; its joys are transitory; its hours are fleeting.

What is loose love? A transient gust.

If [we love] transitory things, which soon decay,
Age must be loveliest at the latest day.

O fleeting joys
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes.

-- Tran"sient*ly (#), adv. -- Tran"sient*ness, n.

Tran"sient, n. That which remains but for a brief time. Glanvill.

Tran"sient (?), a. [L. transiens, - entis, p. pr. of transire, transitum, to go or pass over. See Trance.] 1. Passing before the sight or perception, or, as it were, moving over or across a space or scene viewed, and then disappearing; hence, of short duration; not permanent; not lasting or durable; not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as, transient pleasure. "Measured this transient world." Milton.

2. Hasty; momentary; imperfect; brief; as, a transient view of a landscape.

3. Staying for a short time; not regular or permanent; as, a transient guest; transient boarders. [Colloq. U. S.]

Syn. -- Transient, Transitory, Fleeting. Transient represents a thing as brief at the best; transitory, as liable at any moment to pass away. Fleeting goes further, and represents it as in the act of taking its flight. Life is transient; its joys are transitory; its hours are fleeting.

What is loose love? A transient gust.

If [we love] transitory things, which soon decay,
Age must be loveliest at the latest day.

O fleeting joys
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes.

-- Tran"sient*ly (#), adv. -- Tran"sient*ness, n.

Tran"sient, n. That which remains but for a brief time. Glanvill.

• Passing or disappearing with time; transitory.
  
• Remaining for only a brief time.
  
• (physics) Decaying with time, especially exponentially.
  
• Occasional; isolated; one-off; individual.
  
• Passing through; passing from one person to another.
  
• (philosophy) Operating beyond itself; having an external effect (antonym: immanent).
  
• Something which is transient.
  
• (physics) A transient phenomenon, especially an electric current; a very brief surge.
  
• A person who passes through a place for a short time; a traveller; a migrant worker.