quaternary

[ kwot-er-ner-ee, kwuh-tur-nuh-ree ]

adjective

1. consisting of four.
2. arranged in fours.
3. (initial capital letter) Geology. noting or pertaining to the present period of earth history, forming the latter part of the Cenozoic Era, originating about 2 million years ago and including the Recent and Pleistocene Epochs.
4. Metallurgy. (of an alloy) having four principal constituents.

noun

, plural quat·er·nar·ies.

1. a group of four.
2. the number four.
3. (initial capital letter) Geology. the Quaternary Period or System.

quaternary

¹

/ kwəˈtɜːnərɪ /

adjective

1. consisting of fours or by fours
2. fourth in a series
3. chem containing or being an atom bound to four other atoms or groups

   a quaternary ammonium compound

4. maths having four variables

noun

1. the number four or a set of four

Quaternary

²

/ kwəˈtɜːnərɪ /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the most recent period of geological time, which succeeded the Tertiary period nearly two million years ago

noun

1. the Quaternary
   the Quaternary period or rock system, divided into Pleistocene and Holocene (Recent) epochs or series

quaternary

/ kwŏt′ər-nĕr′ē /

Noun

1. Quaternary . The second and last period of the Cenozoic Era, from about 2 million years ago to the present. During this time the continents were situated approximately as they are today, although the geography was different due to fluctuations in sea levels caused by the advance and retreat of ice sheets. Humans first appeared during this period.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Adjective

1. Relating to or having a carbon atom that is attached to four other carbon atoms in a molecule. Quaternary pentane, for example, contains five carbon atoms of which one is in the center and the other four are each attached to it.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaternary¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin quaternārius consisting of four, equivalent to quatern ( ī ) four at a time + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaternary¹

C15: from Latin quaternārius each containing four, from quaternī by fours, distributive of quattuor four

Example Sentences

"While underground localities are globally significant in archaeology and Quaternary science, our research represents the first comprehensive study of its kind in Saudi Arabia," added Professor Michael Petraglia, Director of ARCHE.

From Science Daily

Now, San Diego State University researchers report in the journal Quaternary Research that they have created a computational model to help predict the likelihood of large animal extinctions.

From Science Daily

But the proposal was voted down earlier this month by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy.

From BBC

She next joined the Quaternary Research Center at the University of Washington, where her work included documenting the fault zone that runs through Seattle.

From Seattle Times

In recent geological history, the so-called Quaternary period, there have been repeated ice ages and warm periods.

From Science Daily