quaternary

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛɹ.i/ UK /kwəˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #177302

Meanings

1

adj
consisting of four parts or arranged in groups of four

The researcher encoded each state with a quaternary symbol.
2

adj
fourth in a sequence, rank, or level

The diagram separates primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
3

noun
the most recent geological period, extending from about 2.6 million years ago to the present

Repeated glaciations shaped the landscape during the Quaternary.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · consisting of four parts or... fourfoldquaternate

2 adj · fourth in a sequence, rank,... fourth

3 noun · the most recent geological... Quaternary period

Word family

Derived forms quaternarilyquaternatequaternion

Related forms ternary quinary

Etymology

From Latin quaternarius ("consisting of four"), from quaterni ("four each, by fours"). English developed general numerical and ordinal senses; geology later adopted Quaternary as the name of the fourth division in an older sequence of eras.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# quaternary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛɹ.i/
**IPA (UK):** /kwəˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 177302

## Meanings
1. consisting of four parts or arranged in groups of four
2. fourth in a sequence, rank, or level
3. the most recent geological period, extending from about 2.6 million years ago to the present

## Examples
- The researcher encoded each state with a quaternary symbol.
- The diagram separates primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
- Repeated glaciations shaped the landscape during the Quaternary.

## Synonyms
- fourfold
- quaternate
- fourth

## Derived Forms
- quaternarily
- quaternate
- quaternion

## Related Forms
- ternary
- quinary

## Etymology
From Latin quaternarius ("consisting of four"), from quaterni ("four each, by fours"). English developed general numerical and ordinal senses; geology later adopted Quaternary as the name of the fourth division in an older sequence of eras.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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