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fourth Definition

fourth (fôrt̸h, fōrt̸h)

adjective

  1. preceded by three others in a series; 4th
  2. designating any of the four equal parts of something
  3. designating the forward gear ratio of a motor vehicle next after third gear

Etymology: ME feorthe, ferthe < OE feortha: see four & -th

noun

  1. the one following the third
  2. any of the four equal parts of something;
  3. Music
    1. the fourth tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone three degrees above or below any given tone in such a scale; subdominant
    2. the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them

adverb

in the fourth place, rank, group, etc.

fourth Related Forms
fourth′ly adverb
fourth Usage Examples

Preposition: from

  • bottom: The defeat leaves Neston fourth from bottom in the Cheshire County Premier League although they are now mathematically safe from the threat of relegation.
  • right: If you click on the blue book that is fourth from the right, this will bring up your address book.

Preposition: on

  • grid: Harris made another good start to race two and moved into sixth position on the track from fourth on the grid.

Modifies a noun

  • quarter: In the fourth quarter of 2001, the number of actions entered was just over 17 % less than the fourth quarter of 2000.
  • edition: The fourth edition of the Code was published in October 2000.
  • century: Further changes took place in the fourth century, which provide further evidence for the imperial status of London.
  • dimension: We cannot mentally rotate an object in the fourth dimension.
  • round: Quins are at home to Toulouse on Sunday 2nd April in the fourth round of the Powergen Challenge Cup.
  • commandment: In Exodus 20 he leads them to the Sinai mountain and makes the seventh day a law ( the fourth commandment ).

Used with adjective complement

  • finish: Tom Richards also finished fourth in both his finals.
  • rank: Five years ago the Port of Liverpool was ranked fourth among UK container ports serving the busy North Atlantic route.
  • come: Britain's Paula Radcliffe came fourth in the 4km World Cross Country Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal from March 18 - 19.
  • go: Doncaster Phoenix stay second, but lost again, 19-18 at Moortown, who go fourth.
  • end: Paul Hartland just missed out on a medal, ending fourth in the vet men's team competition.

Preposition: in

  • discus: He was also fourth in the discus with 25.8m.
  • 100m: He was also fourth in the 100m in 12.3 seconds.
  • 200m: Taylor also won the long jump with a leap of 4.53m and finished fourth in the 200m in 28secs.
  • jump: Sean Pates was third in the speed bounce and fourth in the vertical jump.
  • series: The operation was the fourth in a series carried out to correct his squint.
  • league: This result sees Donington rise to fourth in the league.