quaternary

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: QuaternaryQuaternary periodAge of Manfour4IVtetradquaternquaternionquaternityquartetquadruplet

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. last 2 million yearsSynonyms: QuaternaryQuaternary periodAge of Man
  2. the cardinal number that is the sum of three and oneSynonyms: four4IVtetradquaternquaternionquaternityquartetquadrupletfoursomeLittle Joe

Adjective (2)

  1. consisting of or especially arranged in sets of four“quaternate leaves”“a quaternary compound”Synonyms: quaternate
  2. 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”Synonyms: fourth4th
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Quaternary \Qua*ter"na*ry\, n. [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F. quaternaire.]

1.The number four. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

2.(Geol.) The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the Chart of Geology. [1913 Webster]

Quaternary \Qua*ter"na*ry\, a. [L. quaternarius consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni four each, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quaternaire. See Four.] [1913 Webster]

1.Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four. [1913 Webster]

2.(Geol.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man. [1913 Webster]

Advertisement