qua·ter·na·ry
ˈkwä-tər-ˌner-ē 
ˈkwä-tə-,
kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē
1
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of four units or members
b
: of, relating to, or being a number system with a base of four
2
capitalized
: of, relating to, or being the geologic period from the end of the Tertiary to the present time or the corresponding system of rocks see Geologic Time Table
3
: consisting of, containing, or being an atom bonded to four other atoms
plural quaternaries
1
capitalized
: the Quaternary period or system of rocks
2
: a member of a group fourth in order or rank
Examples of quaternary in a Sentence
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Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
This quaternary ammonium salt acts as a formaldehyde releaser.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Aug. 2023
Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2017
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Adjective
The climate is hot and arid, said Mahmoud Abbas, a quaternary geologist at Shantou University in Shantou, China, and a Jordanian by birth.
—Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
This quaternary ammonium salt acts as a formaldehyde releaser.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 8 Aug. 2023
Noun
Today's PT lumber is treated with safer, less toxic chemicals, such as alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2017
See all Example Sentences for quaternary
Dictionary Entries Near quaternary
Cite this Entry
“Quaternary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quaternary. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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quaternary
1 of 2 adjective
qua·ter·na·ry
ˈkwät-ə(r)-ˌner-ē
kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē
kwə-ˈtər-nə-rē
: consisting of, containing, or being an atom bonded to four other atoms
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