TERTIARY


Meaning of TERTIARY in English

/terr"shee er'ee, terr"sheuh ree/ , adj., n., pl. tertiaries .

adj.

1. of the third order, rank, stage, formation, etc.; third.

2. Chem.

a. noting or containing a carbon atom united to three other carbon atoms.

b. formed by replacement of three atoms or groups.

3. ( cap. ) Geol. noting or pertaining to the period forming the earlier part of the Cenozoic Era, occurring from 65 million to 2 million years ago, characterized by the development and proliferation of mammals. See table under geologic time .

4. Ornith. tertial.

5. Eccles. noting or pertaining to a branch, or third order, of certain religious orders that consists of lay members living in community (regular tertiaries) or living in the world (secular tertiaries) .

n.

6. ( cap. ) Geol. the Tertiary Period or System.

7. Ornith. a tertial feather.

8. ( often cap. ) Eccles. a member of a tertiary branch of a religious order.

9. See tertiary color .

[ 1540-50; tertiarius of third part or rank, equiv. to terti ( us ) THIRD + -arius -ARY ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .