QUATERNARY
fourth, th, quaternary
(adjective) coming next after the third and just before the fifth in position or time or degree or magnitude; “the quaternary period of geologic time extends from the end of the tertiary period to the present”
quaternate, quaternary
(adjective) consisting of or especially arranged in sets of four; “quaternate leaves”; “a quaternary compound”
four, IV, tetrad, quatern, quaternion, quaternary, quaternity, quartet, quadruplet, foursome, Little Joe
(noun) the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
Quaternary, Quaternary period, Age of Man
(noun) last 2 million years
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
quaternary (not comparable)
Of fourth rank or order
Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x4
Relating to or in number base four
(organic chemistry) quaternary ammonium
(inorganic chemistry) composed of four elements
Usage notes
The etymologically correct fourth ordinal from Latin (following tertiary) is quartary, but quaternary (from the distributive number instead) is common, particularly in biology.
Noun
quaternary (plural quaternaries)
(chemistry) A quaternary compound.
(geology) The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.
Etymology
Proper noun
Quaternary
(geology) The geological period of the Cenozoic Era immediately following the Tertiary. It is subdivided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs.
Source: Wiktionary
Qua*ter"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. quaternarius consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni four each, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quaternaire. See Four.]
1. Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four.
2. (Geol.)
Definition: Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man.
Qua*ter"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F. quaternaire.]
1. The number four. Boyle.
2. (Geol.)
Definition: The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the Chart of Geology.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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