Quaternary
proper noun
- the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy
- of, relating to, or being the Quaternary geologic period from the end of the Tertiary to the present time or the corresponding system of rocks
noun
- term in organic chemistry used to describe degree of substitution of an atom in a molecule
adjective
- relating to the number 4
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /kwəˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/ / /ˈkwɔːt.ən.(ə.)ɹi/ / /ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛɹ.i/ / /ˈkwɑt.əɹˌnɛɹ.i/ / /kwəˈtɜɹ.nə.ɹi/ / /ˈkwɒt.əˌnɛɹ.iː/
adj
Etymology: Derived from Latin quaternārius (“containing or consisting of four”), from quaternī (“four each”, “four at a time”) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.
- Of fourth rank or order.
“the quaternary stress in a pronounced word”
- Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x⁴.
- Relating to or in number base four.
- quaternary ammonium.
- Composed of four elements.
name
Etymology: From Latin quaternārius (“consisting of four”), from quaternī (“by fours”); in numerical sense via Middle English quaternary. Compare French quaternaire.
- The geological period of the Cenozoic Era immediately following the Tertiary. It is subdivided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs.
“Meronyms: Pleistocene, Holocene, Anthropocene, assholocene”
- Alternative letter-case form of quaternary.
noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin quaternārius (“containing or consisting of four”), from quaternī (“four each”, “four at a time”) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.
- A quaternary compound.
- The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.