Definition of Tertiary

  • (n.) A member of the Third Order in any monastic system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See Third Order, under Third.
  • (n.) The Tertiary era, period, or formation.
  • (n.) One of the quill feathers which are borne upon the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.
  • (a.) Being of the third formation, order, or rank; third; as, a tertiary use of a word.
  • (a.) Possessing some quality in the third degree; having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms or radicals; as, a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt. Cf. Primary, and Secondary.
  • (a.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Secondary.
  • (a.) Growing on the innermost joint of a bird's wing; tertial; -- said of quills.

Synonyms of Tertiary


Antonyms of Tertiary


No Antonyms Found.

Homophones of Tertiary


No Homophones Found.