tertiary

Definitions


[ˈtəːʃ(ə)ri], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- third in order or level
(e.g: the tertiary stage of the disease)

- relating to or denoting the first period of the Cenozoic era, between the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods, and comprising the Palaeogene and Neogene sub-periods

- (of an organic compound) having its functional group located on a carbon atom which is itself bonded to three other carbon atoms

- denoting or relating to carnivores that eat other carnivores and omnivores
(e.g: the tertiary consumers must hunt for their food)


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 16th century (in tertiary): from Latin tertiarius ‘of the third part or rank’, from tertius ‘third’


[ˈtəːʃ(ə)ri], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the Tertiary period or the system of rocks deposited during it

- a lay associate of certain Christian monastic organizations
(e.g: a Franciscan tertiary)


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 16th century (in tertiary): from Latin tertiarius ‘of the third part or rank’, from tertius ‘third’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries