ordinal

/'ɔ:dinl/

Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the word "ordinal" in a way that's easy to understand.

Definition:

The word "ordinal" is an adjective that describes something related to the order of things in a sequence. It tells us the position of something in a list or series.

Usage Instructions:

You use "ordinal" when you want to describe the rank or position of something. For example, if you are talking about the third place in a race, you would say "third" is an ordinal number.

Examples:

1. Adjective:

   • "In a race, the person who finishes in first place is the ordinal winner."
   • "The third book in the series is very exciting."

2. Noun:

   • "In the list of students, Maria is in the fourth position. The number four is an ordinal number."

Advanced Usage:

In mathematics and linguistics, "ordinal" can refer to a specific kind of number that indicates position rather than quantity. For example, in set theory, ordinals can be used to describe types of orderings of sets.

Word Variants:

• Ordinal Number: A number that shows the position of something (e.g., first, second, third).
• Ordinality: The quality of being ordinal; it refers to the concept of position in a sequence.

Different Meanings:

• In biology, "ordinal" can refer to a taxonomic rank, such as the order in which certain species are classified (e.g., the order Carnivora includes animals like cats and dogs).

Synonyms:

• Position
• Rank
• Sequence
• Order (when talking about placement)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "ordinal" is not commonly used in idioms or phrasal verbs, you might hear phrases like "first and foremost," which implies priority or the top position in importance.

Summary:

Remember, "ordinal" is all about position and order.

Academic

Adjective

1. being or denoting a numerical order in a series
   • ordinal numbers
   • held an ordinal rank of seventh
2. of or relating to a taxonomic order
   • family and ordinal names of animals and plants

Noun

1. the number designating place in an ordered sequence

Synonyms

• ordinal number
• no.