Main Entry:

fifth

Pronunciation:

\ˈfith, ˈfif(t)th, ˈfift\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural fifths \ˈfiths, ˈfif(t)ths, ˈfif(t)s\

Etymology:

Middle English fifte, fifthe, from Old English fīfta, from fīf five

Date:

before 12th century

1 — see number table2 a: the musical interval embracing five diatonic degrees b: a tone at this interval ; specifically : dominant 1 c: the harmonic combination of two tones at this interval3: a unit of measure for liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon (0.757 liter)4capitalized : the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution ; also : the right accorded by the Fifth Amendment to refuse to testify against oneself —usually used in the phrase take the Fifth

— fifth adjective or adverb

— fifth·ly adverb