twelfth

1 of 2

adjective

ˈtwel|f(t)th 

|ft, 

-eu̇|, 

rapid or substandard |th;

the sound transcribed f may be bilabial instead of labiodental—the voiceless cognate of ḇ

1

: being number 12 in a countable series

the twelfth day

see Table of Numbers

2

: being one of 12 equal parts into which something is divisible

a twelfth share of the money

twelfth

2 of 2

noun

"

plural twelfths

|f(t)ths, 

|f(t)s

1

: number 12 in a countable series

the twelfth of the month

2

: the quotient of a unit divided by 12 : one of 12 equal parts of something

one twelfth of the total

3

usually capitalized

a

[Middle English twelthe, short for twelfte day, twelthe day] : epiphany

b

[by shortening] : twelfthtide

4

a

: a musical interval (see interval sense 2c) embracing an octave and a fifth : a musical interval embracing twelve diatonic degrees

b

: a note eleven diatonic degrees from another note : a note an octave and a fifth above or below another note

c

: a harmonic combination of two notes that are eleven diatonic degrees apart : the musical interval (see interval sense 2c)of a twelfth as a harmonic combination

d

Twelfth plural Twelfths : an organ stop producing notes a twelfth above those of the keys played

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English twelfte, twelfthe, adjective & noun, from Old English, from Old English twelfta (akin to Old High German zwelifto twelfth, Old Norse tolfti), from twelf twelve + -ta (from -otha, -tha -th)

Noun

Middle English twelfte, twelfthe

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Kids Definition

twelfth

noun

ˈtwelf(t)th

: one that is number 12 in a series see number

twelfth adjective or adverb