quaternary
Plural: quaternaries
Noun
- last 2 million years
- the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
- A quaternary compound.
- The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.
Adjective Satellite
- consisting of or especially arranged in sets of four
- "a quaternary compound"
- coming next after the third and just before the fifth in position or time or degree or magnitude
- "the quaternary period of geologic time extends from the end of the tertiary period to the present"
Adj
- Of fourth rank or order.
- Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x⁴.
- Relating to or in number base four.
- quaternary ammonium.
- Composed of four elements.
Examples
- the quaternary stress in a pronounced word
Origin / Etymology
Derived from Latin quaternārius (“containing or consisting of four”), from quaternī (“four each”, “four at a time”) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.
Synonyms
4, 4th, Age of Man, four, foursome, fourth, IV, Little Joe, quadruplet, quartet, quatern, Quaternary period, quaternate, quaternion, quaternity, tetrad, quartal, quartary
Scrabble Score: 22
quaternary: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordquaternary: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
quaternary: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary