Definition

1. Noun:

   • The cardinal number equal to 3 + 1: The number represented by the symbol 4.
   • A playing card, domino, or die marked with four pips: An item in a game showing four symbols.
   • A group or set of four people or things: A quartet or foursome.
   • A four-oared rowing boat or its crew: A boat propelled by four rowers.

2. Adjective:

   • Amounting to one more than three: Being of the quantity 4.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Two plus two equals four.
  • He drew a four of hearts from the deck.
  • They formed a four to play doubles tennis.
  • The university four won the race.

• Adjective:

  • She has four brothers.
  • The recipe requires four eggs.

Advanced Usage

• "on all fours": On hands and knees; crawling.
  • The baby was on all fours, trying to stand up.
• "on all fours (with)": In exact agreement or correspondence; analogous.
  • The legal precedent is not on all fours with the current case.

Variants and Related Words

• Fourth (adj., n.): Constituting number four in a sequence; one of four equal parts.
  • This is my fourth cup of coffee today.
  • A fourth of the pie is missing.
• Fourfold (adj., adv.): Four times as great or as numerous.
  • A fourfold increase in profits.
• Foursome (n.): A group of four people.
  • We need a foursome for this card game.

Synonyms

• Quartet: A set or group of four.
• Quadruplet: One of four children born at one birth.
• Tetrad: A group or set of four (technical/literary).

Related Phrases

• Four-letter word: A short word, often considered vulgar or offensive.
  • He accidentally used a four-letter word in front of the children.
• Four corners of the earth/world: All parts of the world; everywhere.
  • Fans came from the four corners of the earth to see the concert.
• Four-square (adv., adj.): Firmly and resolutely; solidly built.
  • He stood four-square against the proposal.
  • A four-square house.

Idioms

• Between you, me, and the four walls: In strict confidence; a secret.
  • Between you, me, and the four walls, I think the plan will fail.
• Four-eyes: A (usually offensive) nickname for a person who wears glasses.
  • The bully called him four-eyes.

Noun

1. a playing card or domino or die whose upward face shows four pips
2. the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

Adjective

1. being one more than three