I. (ˈ)sik|stēn adjective
Etymology: Middle English sixtene, adjective & noun, from Old English sixtȳne (akin to Old High German sehszehan, Old Norse sextān ), from six + -tȳne (from tȳn ten) — more at six , ten
: being one more than 15 in number
sixteen years
— see number table; used prepositively to designate specified years of the 17th century
the sixteen -eighties
the early sixteen -hundreds
II. pronoun, plural in construction
Etymology: Middle English sixtene, from sixtene, n. & adjective
: 16 countable persons or things not specified but under consideration and being enumerated
sixteen are here
sixteen were found
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sixtene, from Old English sixtȳne
1. : 10 and six : twice eight : eight times two : four fours : the square of four
2.
a. : 16 units or objects
a total of sixteen
b. : a group or set of 16
3. : the numerable quantity symbolized by the arabic numerals 16
4. : the 16th in a set or series ; especially : an article of clothing of the 16th size
wears a sixteen
5. sixteens plural : sixteenmo