fourth

[ fawrth, fohrth ]

adjective

1. next after the third; being the ordinal number for four.
2. being one of four equal parts.
3. Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft speed is greater than that of third gear for a given engine crankshaft speed, but not so great as that of fifth gear, if such exists:

   fourth gear.

noun

1. a fourth part, especially of one (¼).
2. the fourth member of a series.
3. Music.
   1. a tone on the fourth degree from a given tone (counted as the first).
   2. the interval between such tones.
   3. the harmonic combination of such tones.
4. Automotive. fourth gear:

   She downshifted from fifth to fourth as we started up the hill.

5. the Fourth. Independence Day; the Fourth of July.

adverb

1. in the fourth place; fourthly.

fourth

/ fɔːθ /

adjective

1. 1. coming after the third in order, position, time, etc. Often written: 4th
   2. ( as noun )

      the fourth in succession

2. denoting the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in motor vehicles

noun

1. music
   1. the interval between one note and another four notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale
   2. one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other See also perfect interval diminished
2. the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle

   he changed into fourth as soon as he had passed me

3. a less common word for quarter

adverb

1. after the third person, position, event, etc

sentence connector

1. as the fourth point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of fourth¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English fourthe, Old English fēowertha; four, -th ²

Example Sentences

His fourth touchdown came early in the fourth quarter on another one-yard plunge.

From Los Angeles Times

Westchester trailed by eight points going into the fourth quarter, rallied to take a one-point point lead with less than a minute left.

From Los Angeles Times

LeBron James stood at midcourt early in the fourth, his hands on his hips while a faint cheer began to echo through the building.

From Los Angeles Times

After missing the playoffs for a franchise-worst fourth consecutive season and setting records for defeats, the team fired coach Curt Miller and promised better results.

From Los Angeles Times

England's world ranking of fourth, third in Europe, means they are highly likely to be top seeds despite not having been in League A.

From BBC