Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Quaternary
Qua-ter′na-ry
,Adj.
[L.
quaternarius
consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni
four each, fr. quattuor
four: cf. F. quaternaire
. See Four
.] 1.
Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four.
2.
(Geol.)
Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary;
as, the
. Quaternary
age, or Age of manQua-ter′na-ry
,Noun.
[L. numerus
quaternarius
: cf. F. quaternaire
.] 1.
The number four.
Boyle.
Webster 1828 Edition
Quaternary
QUATERN'ARY
,Noun.
The number four.
QUATERN'ARY
,Adj.
Definition 2024
Quaternary
Quaternary
See also: quaternary
English
Proper noun
Quaternary
- (geology) The geological period of the Cenozoic Era immediately following the Tertiary. It is subdivided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs.
Translations
geological period
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See also
quaternary
quaternary
See also: Quaternary
English
Adjective
quaternary (not comparable)
- Of fourth rank or order.
- the quaternary stress in a pronounced word
- Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x4.
Usage notes
The etymologically correct fourth ordinal from Latin (following tertiary) is quartary, but quaternary (from the distributive number instead) is common, particularly in biology.
Related terms
Translations
of fourth rank or order
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of mathematical expressions
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See also
- singular, unary (1)
- primary (1st)
- binary (2)
- secondary (2nd)
- ternary or trinary (3)
- tertiary (3rd)
- quaternary (4)
- quartary (4th)
- quinary (5)
- senary (6)
- septenary (7)
- octonary (8)
- novenary (9)
- nonary (9th)
- denary (10)
- duodenary (12)
- vigenary (20)
- centenary (100)
- semi (5000)
Noun
quaternary (plural quaternaries)