thirty

[ thur-tee ]

noun

, plural thir·ties.

1. a cardinal number, 10 times 3.
2. a symbol for this number, as 30 or XXX.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. Printing, Journalism. 30-dash.
5. thirties, the numbers, years, degrees, or the like, from 30 through 39, as in referring to numbered streets, indicating the years of a lifetime or of a century, or referring to degrees of temperature:

   He works in the East Thirties. She must be in her thirties. The temperature was in the thirties yesterday.

adjective

1. amounting to 30 in number.

thirty

/ ˈθɜːtɪ /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three See also number
2. a numeral, 30, XXX, etc, representing this number
3. plural the numbers 30–39, esp the 30th to the 39th year of a person's life or of a century
4. the amount or quantity that is three times as big as ten
5. something representing, represented by, or consisting of 30 units

determiner

1. 1. amounting to thirty

      thirty trees

   2. ( as pronoun )

      thirty are broken

Word History and Origins

Origin of thirty¹

before 900; Middle English thritty, Old English thrītig, equivalent to thrī three + -tig -ty ¹; cognate with Dutch dertig, German dreissig, Old Norse thrjātīu

Word History and Origins

Origin of thirty¹

Old English thrītig; see three , -ty ¹

Example Sentences

Thirty years later and attitudes remain much the same towards one of sport's strangest positions and the players used in the specific instance when a team kick the ball away to clear their lines.

From BBC

Thirty years ago, it was agreed that developed countries should take on more of the financial burden because of their historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and the economic benefits they enjoyed from exploiting fossil fuels.

From BBC

Thirty years ago, Edwards’ wife, Karen, was working as a customer service representative at Quantum Computer Services, AOL’s predecessor company, when she overheard then-chief executive Steve Case say he needed a voiceover actor for a new project.

From Los Angeles Times

Thirty years after Californians adopted the ‘three strikes’ law and filled prisons to unconstitutional levels, the measure is back on the ballot in two unexpected ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Thirty four percent of voters said democracy mattered most to their vote, while 31% of voters said the economy was most important.

From Salon