Quaternary

Meaning

1. The geological period of the Cenozoic Era immediately following the Tertiary. It is subdivided into the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs.
2. (alt-of) Alternative letter-case form of quaternary.

Synonyms

Quaternary period

Age of Man

Translations

Quartär

quaternario

Quaternaire

Quaternário

quaternaire

Quaternari

quaternari

Kwartair

Cuaternario

Kuvaterner

Período cuaternario

Τεταρτογενές

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkwɑt.əɹˌnɛɹ.i/

Etymology

Cognate with French: quaternaire

In summary

From Latin quaternārius (“consisting of four”), from quaternī (“by fours”); in numerical sense via Middle English quaternary. Compare French quaternaire.