I. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective
: being one more than 47 in number
forty-eight years
— see number table
II. pronoun, plural in construction
: 48 countable persons or things not specified but under consideration and being enumerated
forty-eight are here
forty-eight were found
III. noun
1. : eight and 40 : three times 16 : four times 12 : six times eight : four dozen
2.
a. : 48 units or objects
a total of forty-eight
b. : a group or set of 48
3. : the numerable quantity symbolized by the arabic numerals 48
4. : the 48th in a set or series ; especially : an article of clothing of the 48th size
wears a forty-eight
5. : forty-eightmo
6. : a 48-hour leave (as from military duties)