First Known Use: 1605
Dictionary
1quaternary
adjective qua·ter·na·ry \ˈkwä-tə(r)-ˌner-ē, kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē\
Definition of QUATERNARY
1
a : of, relating to, or consisting of four units or members b : of, relating to, or being a number system with a base of four
2
capitalized : of, relating to, or being the geological period from the end of the Tertiary to the present time or the corresponding system of rocks — see geologic time table
3
: consisting of, containing, or being an atom bonded to four other atoms
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Origin of QUATERNARY
Latin quaternarius, from quaterni four each
Other Geology Terms
Rhymes with QUATERNARY
actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry
2quaternary
noun
plural quaternaries
Definition of QUATERNARY
1
capitalized : the Quaternary period or system of rocks
2
: a member of a group fourth in order or rank
First Known Use of QUATERNARY
1880
Other Geology Terms
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