Definition

1. Noun:
   • A period of ten years: A decade is a unit of time equal to ten consecutive years.
   • A set or group of ten: In a more general sense, a decade can refer to any group or series of ten things, though this usage is less common than the temporal one.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Period of ten years):
  • The city's population grew rapidly over the past decade.
  • She has been working at the company for nearly a full decade.
• Noun (Group of ten):
  • The survey was conducted with a decade of participants. (This usage is formal and less frequent.)

Advanced Usage

• "The turn of the decade": Refers to the point marking the end of one decade and the beginning of the next (e.g., 2019 to 2020).
  • Many technological advancements occurred at the turn of the last decade.
• "A decade ago": Used to refer to a point in time ten years in the past.
  • A decade ago, smartphones were not as ubiquitous as they are today.

Variants and Related Words

• Decadal (adj): Relating to or lasting for a decade.
  • The scientists observed decadal climate patterns.
• Decennium (n): A formal synonym for a decade as a ten-year period.
  • The treaty was signed for a decennium.

Synonyms

• Ten years: The most direct synonym for the temporal meaning.
• Decennium: A more formal or literary term for a decade.

Related Phrases

• "Lost decade": A period of ten years marked by economic stagnation or decline.
  • The country is trying to recover from its economic lost decade.
• "Roaring Twenties": An example of a specific, famously named decade (the 1920s).

Noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
2. a period of 10 years