Meanings
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1
adj
coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position
The word tertiary appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
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2
adj
Of third rank or order; subsequent.
The word tertiary appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
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3
adj
Possessing some quality in the third degree; especially having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms or radicals.
a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt
Thesaurus
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes Borrowed from the Latin tertiārius (“of the third part or rank”), from tertius (“third”) (from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥tyós, whence English third) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French tertiaire. By surface analysis, terti- + -ary.