tertiary

Definitions

1. 1.(Chem.) Possessing some quality in the third degree; having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms or radicals; as, a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt. Cf. Primary, and Secondary. (CH3)3C.OH.
2. 2.(Geol.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Secondary.
3. 3.(Zoöl.) Growing on the innermost joint of a bird's wing; tertial; -- said of quills. Tertiary age. (Geol.) See under Age, 8. -- Tertiary color, a color produced by the mixture of two secondaries. "The so-called tertiary colors are citrine, russet, and olive." Fairholt. -- Tertiary period. (Geol.) (a) The first period of the age of mammals, or of the Cenozoic era. (b) The rock formation of that period; -- called also Tertiary formation. See the Chart of Geology. -- Tertiary syphilis (Med.), the third and last stage of syphilis, in which it invades the bones and internal organs.
4. 4.(R. C. Ch.) A member of the Third Order in any monastic system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See Third Order, under Third. Addis & Arnold.
5. 5.(Geol.) The Tertiary era, period, or formation.
6. 6.(Zoöl.) One of the quill feathers which are borne upon the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "tertiary" mean?
• What is another word for "tertiary"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is tertiary.

• What is later than, or subsequent to, the Secondary called?
• What is a member of the Third Order in any monastic system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See Third Order, under Third. Addis & Arnold called?
• What is the Tertiary era, period, or formation called?
• What is one of the quill feathers which are borne upon the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of Bird called?