Word: Tertiary
Part of Speech: Adjective
Basic Definition: The word "tertiary" means third in order or position. It comes after the second and before the fourth.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "tertiary" to describe something that is third in a sequence.
It is often used in academic, scientific, and geographical contexts.
Example Sentences:
In a traffic light, the tertiary color is the one that appears third in the order of red, yellow, and green.
The tertiary education system includes colleges and universities where students can earn degrees after completing secondary school.
Advanced Usage:
"Tertiary" can also refer to things in specialized fields, such as geology or biology. For example, in geology, the Tertiary period refers to a specific time in Earth's history from about 63 million to 2 million years ago.
Word Variants:
Tertiary (adjective): relating to the third level or order.
Tertiary (noun): refers to a third order or level, especially in education.
Tertiary sector: in economics, this refers to the service sector, which is the third sector after primary (raw materials) and secondary (manufacturing) sectors.
Different Meanings:
In education, "tertiary" specifically refers to higher education after secondary school.
In chemistry, "tertiary" can describe the structure of certain compounds, such as tertiary alcohols, which contain a specific arrangement of carbon atoms.
Synonyms:
Third
Third-level
Trinary (less common)
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While "tertiary" doesn't have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you can use it in phrases such as: - "Tertiary importance" to indicate something that is of lesser importance compared to primary and secondary concerns.
Summary:
"Tertiary" is an adjective that denotes the third position in a sequence. It is commonly used in various fields, especially education and science.