I. ˈkwȯrˌtīl, -rd. ə l, -(ˌ)til noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin quartilis, adjective, constituting or related to the aspect of two celestial bodies that are ninety degrees apart, from Latin quartus fourth + -ilis -ile (adjective suffix)
archaic : the aspect of two celestial bodies that are 90 degrees apart
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary quart- + -ile, n. suffix
: any one of the three values that divide the items of a frequency distribution into four classes of one quarter each of the total number of items so that the values corresponding to the items in one class are less than the first quartile, those in a second class are greater than the first quartile and less than the second, those in a third class are greater than the second quartile and less than the third, those in a fourth class are greater than the third quartile