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quaternary
adjective
- consisting of four; in sets of four
- designating or of the second and current geologic period of the Cenozoic Era, usually subdivided into the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs and characterized by a series of ice ages, the first toolmaking cultures, and the rise of modern human culture
- Chem.
- designating a compound or alloy containing four different components or elements: quaternary silver
- being, of, or containing an atom linked to four carbon atoms: a quaternary nitrogen atom
noun pl. quaternaries
- the number four
- a set of four
See quaternary in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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