Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position or order.
   • Constituting one of three equal parts into which something is divisible.

2. Adverb:

   • In the third place or rank.

3. Noun:

   • One of three equal parts of a whole; a fraction equal to one divided by three (1/3).
   • The position in a sequence corresponding to the number 3.
   • (Baseball) The third base or the fielding position near it.
   • (Music) The interval between two notes that are three diatonic scale degrees apart (e.g., C to E).
   • (Mechanics) The third forward gear in a motor vehicle's transmission.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She finished in third place in the race.
  • He ate a third of the pizza.
• Adverb:
  • First, I woke up. Second, I brushed my teeth. Third, I had breakfast.
• Noun:
  • Two thirds of the students passed the exam.
  • The runner was tagged out at third.
  • The chord is built on a major third.
  • Shift into third when you reach higher speeds.

Advanced Usage

• "the third degree": intensive questioning or interrogation.
  • The police gave the suspect the third degree.
• "third party": a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation.
  • The dispute was settled by a third party.
• "third world" (historical/geopolitical): originally referring to nations not aligned with either the capitalist or communist blocs; now often used to refer to developing countries.
  • The organization provides aid to third world nations.

Variants and Related Words

• Thirdly (adverb): used to introduce a third point or reason (synonymous with the adverbial use of "third").
  • Thirdly, we must consider the environmental impact.
• Third-rate (adjective): of very poor quality.
  • It was a third-rate performance by the team.

Synonyms

• Adjective/Ordinal: 3rd.
• Noun (Fraction): one-third, tierce (archaic).

Related Phrases

• Third wheel: a person who is present but not needed in a situation involving a couple or pair.
  • I felt like a third wheel on their date.
• Third time's the charm: a proverb suggesting that after two failures, the third attempt is likely to succeed.
  • I failed the test twice, but third time's the charm!

Adverb

1. in the third place
   • third we must consider unemployment

Adjective

1. coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position

Noun

1. the base that must be touched third by a base runner in baseball
   • he was cut down on a close play at third
2. the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle
   • you shouldn't try to start in third gear
3. the musical interval between one note and another three notes away from it
   • a simple harmony written in major thirds
4. following the second position in an ordering or series
   • a distant third
   • he answered the first question willingly, the second reluctantly, and the third with resentment
5. the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the third of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)
   • he is playing third
6. one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
   • it contains approximately a third of the minimum daily requirement