Definitions for: Quaternary


[n] the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
[n] last 2 million years
[adj] 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"
[adj] consisting of or especially arranged in sets of four; "quaternate leaves"; "a quaternary compound"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.]
1. Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four.

2. (Geol.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary;
Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man.


Qua*ter"na*ry, n. [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F.
quaternaire.]
1. The number four. --Boyle.

2. (Geol.) The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the
Chart of Geology.

Synonyms: 4, 4th, Age of Man, four, foursome, fourth, IV, Little Joe, multiple, ordinal, quadruplet, quartet, quatern, Quaternary period, quaternate, quaternion, quaternity, tetrad

See Also: Age of Mammals, Cenozoic, Cenozoic era, digit, figure, geological period, Glacial epoch, Holocene, Holocene epoch, period, Pleistocene, Pleistocene epoch, Recent epoch

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