quaternary

1 of 2

adjective

qua·​ter·​na·​ry ˈkwä-tər-ˌner-ē How to pronounce quaternary (audio)
ˈkwä-tə-,
kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē How to pronounce quaternary (audio)
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 geologic 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

quaternary

2 of 2

noun

plural quaternaries
1
capitalized : the Quaternary period or system of rocks
2
: a member of a group fourth in order or rank

Examples of quaternary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The climate is hot and arid, said Mahmoud Abbas, a quaternary geologist at Shantou University in Shantou, China, and a Jordanian by birth. Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 This quaternary ammonium salt acts as a formaldehyde releaser. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Aug. 2023 The boys are cousins but more genetically similar to siblings and are considered quaternary twins. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2023 One system is binary and the other is quaternary, but the two have a surprising amount of conceptual overlap; both systems can properly be thought of as digital. Rob Toews, Forbes, 16 July 2023 Tetro says to look for active ingredients such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium chloride, and phenolics. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2023 The Sherford site might be the most significant discovery of its kind since the Joint Mitnor cave was found in Devon in 1938, says Danielle Schreve, a professor of quaternary science at Royal Holloway University of London who helped supervise the recovery work, to the Guardian’s Steven Morris. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022 The injury types are numbered for easy reference: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2020 Transfers from other hospital systems are limited to those requiring quaternary care and must be coordinated through the system’s Mission Control. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 6 Jan. 2022
Noun
Today's PT lumber is treated with safer, less toxic chemicals, such as alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quaternary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin quaternarius, from quaterni four each

First Known Use

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quaternary was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near quaternary

Cite this Entry

“Quaternary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quaternary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Quaternary

adjective
Qua·​ter·​na·​ry
ˈkwät-ə(r)-ˌner-ē,
kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē
: of, relating to, or being the period of geological history from the end of the Tertiary period to the present time or the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time
Quaternary noun

Medical Definition

quaternary

1 of 2 adjective
: consisting of, containing, or being an atom bonded to four other atoms

quaternary

2 of 2 noun
plural quaternaries
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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