'Quaternary' definitions:
Definition of 'quaternary'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Consisting of or especially arranged in sets of four; "quaternate leaves"; "a quaternary compound" [syn: quaternate, 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" [syn: fourth, 4th, quaternary]
noun
Last 2 million years [syn: Quaternary, Quaternary period, Age of Man]
noun
The cardinal number that is the sum of three and one [syn: four, 4, IV, tetrad, quatern, quaternion, quaternary, quaternity, quartet, quadruplet, foursome, Little Joe]
Definition of 'Quaternary'
From: GCIDE
- Quaternary \Qua*ter"na*ry\, a. [L. quaternarius consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni four each, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quaternaire. See Four.] [1913 Webster]
- 1. Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Geol.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Quaternary'
From: GCIDE
- Quaternary \Qua*ter"na*ry\, n. [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F. quaternaire.]
- 1. The number four. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Geol.) The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the Chart of Geology. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'quaternary'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- biquadrate,
- biquadratic,
- four,
- four-legged,
- four-part diaphony,
- four-rayed,
- foursome,
- foursquare,
- Little Joe,
- quad,
- quadrangle,
- quadrature,
- quadrennium,
- quadric,
- quadrilateral,
- quadrille,
- quadrinomial,
- quadrivalent,
- quadruped,
- quadruplet,
- quartet,
- quartic,
- quartile,
- quatern,
- quaternion,
- quaternity,
- quatrefoil,
- rectangle,
- square,
- square dance,
- squaring,
- tetractinal,
- tetrad,
- tetragon,
- tetragram,
- tetragrammaton,
- tetrahedron,
- tetralogy,
- tetraphony,
- tetrapody,
- tetravalent