quaternary Hear it!

quaternary definition

qua·ter·nary (kwätər ner′ē, kwə tʉrnə rē)

adjective

  1. consisting of four; in sets of four
  2. 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
  3. Chem.
    1. designating a compound or alloy containing four different components or elements quaternary silver
    2. being, of, or containing an atom linked to four carbon atoms a quaternary nitrogen atom

Etymology: L quaternarius < quaterni, four together, four each < quater, four times < base of quattuor, four

noun pl. quaternaries -·nar′·ies (-nar′ies)

  1. the number four
  2. a set of four
quaternary Idioms

the Quaternary

the Quaternary Period or its rocks

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook