Word of the Day: Tertiary

Monday, February 17, 2025

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adjective

1. Third in order or level.

2. (Tertiary) Relating to or denoting the first period of the Cenozoic era, between the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods, and comprising the Paleogene and Neogene subperiods.

3. Of an organic compound) Having its functional group located on a carbon atom which is itself bonded to three other carbon atoms.

noun

1. (The Tertiary) The Tertiary period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

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"The senator knew he was at a disadvantage as the tertiary candidate."

"If my first two paint choices aren't available, I'll still be happy with the tertiary one on the list."

"My primary care doctor recommended I visit a physical therapist for tertiary treatment."

Latin, mid-16th century

Quite simply, "tertiary" means "third." But it also has specialized definitions in many applications. To geologists, "Tertiary" is a specific period of the Cenozoic era. Chemists use the term to describe particular organic compounds, and ecologists describe carnivores that eat other carnivores as tertiary. ...