quaternary noun & adjective.
[kwǝ'tǝ:n(ǝ)ri] LME.[from Latin quaternarius (adjective), from quaterni four at once, set of four, from quater four times, from quattuor four: see -ARY1.]A. noun.
1. A set of four things; (
obsolete exc.
Hist.) the number four.
LME.quaternary of numbers the tetractys of Pythagoreanism; ten (=1+2+3+4).
2. Geology (
Quaternary). The Quaternary period or sub-era; the system of rocks dating from this time.
E20.3. Chemistry. A quaternary ammonium compound.
M20.b. adjective.
1. Composed of four parts; characterized by the number four; of or belonging to the fourth order or rank, fourth in a series.
E17.2. Geology (
Quaternary). Designating or pertaining to the most recent period or sub-era, following the Tertiary and comprising the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs.
M19.3. Chemistry. Designating or containing a principal atom which forms four bonds to organic radicals. Of a carbon atom: bonded to four other carbon atoms.
L19.Special collocations:
quaternary number (a) four;
(b) ten (see
quaternary of numbers above).
quaternary structure Biochemistry the relative configuration of polypeptide subunits in a protein molecule.
■ quater'narian adjective (
rare) =
QUATERNARY adjective 1
M17. [TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲