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third definition

third (t̸hʉrd)

adjective

  1. preceded by two others in a series; 3d or 3rd
  2. next below the second in rank, power, value, merit, excellence, etc.
  3. designating any of the three equal parts of something

Etymology: ME thirde, altered by metathesis < thridde < OE thridda < IE *tṛtiyo- (< base *trei-, three) > L tertius, Gr tritos

adverb

in the third place, rank, group, etc.

noun

  1. the one following the second
  2. any person, thing, class, place, etc. that is third
  3. any of the three equal parts of something;
  4. the third forward gear of a transmission: it provides more speed but less torque than second
  5. Baseball third base
  6. Music
    1. the third tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone two degrees above or below any given tone in such a scale; mediant
    2. the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical third definition - medical

third Synonyms

third

modif.

part, after the second, next but one; see three.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

third Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • grid: In the first of two races, he rose from third on the grid to move into the lead.

Converse of object

  • occupy: But the cinemas occupy only one third of the net lettable area of the building, with the remainder including licensed premises.

Adjective modifier

  • remaining: Of the remaining third, just under half were on partial housing benefit, and the rest paid all their own rent.

Modifies a noun

  • party: We will not pass on your details to any third party without your prior consent.

Used with adjective complement

  • finish: Birmingham finished third, with Solihull providing 4 out of the 7 team members.

Noun used with modifier

  • two-: Those who support the new proposals think that predictions of dangerousness would be right about two- thirds of the time.

Preposition: in

  • discus: He claimed a win in the hammer and third in the discus to provide unexpected but highly valuable points.

Preposition: of

  • population: In Stantonbury a third of the population died, including the vicar.
third usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

third quotes

There is nothing new inThird World governments seeking to justifyand perpetuate authoritarian rule by denouncing liberal democratic principles as alien.

-Aung San Suu Kyi

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell;The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost;The holy Catholick Church;The Communion of Saints;The Forgiveness of sins;The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

-Book of Common Prayer

Three poets, in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy, and England did adorn. The first in loftiness of thought surpassed, The next in majesty, in both the last: The force of Nature could no farther go; To make a third, she joined the former two.

-Dryden,John

third quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"third." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/third>

APA Style

third. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/third

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