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Definition of 'fourth'

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fourth

(fɔrθ )
Word forms: fourths
1. ordinal number
The fourth item in a series is the one that you count as number four.
Last year's winner was in fourth place.
2. fraction
A fourth is one of four equal parts of something.
[US]
Three-fourths of the public say they favor a national referendum on the issue.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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fourth

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fourth in American English

(fɔrθ ; foʊrθ )
adjective
1. 
preceded by three others in a series; 4th
2. 
designating any of the four equal parts of something
3. 
designating the forward gear ratio of a motor vehicle next after third gear
noun
4. 
the one following the third
5. 
any of the four equal parts of something; 1⁄4
6.  Music
a. 
the fourth tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone three degrees above or below any given tone in such a scale; subdominant
b. 
the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them
adverb
7. 
in the fourth place, rank, group, etc.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
fourthly (ˈfourthly)
adverb
Word origin
ME feorthe, ferthe < OE feortha: see four & -th2
Word Frequency

fourth in American English

(fɔrθ, fourθ)
adjective
1. 
next after the third; being the ordinal number for four
2. 
being one of four equal parts
3. Automobiles
of, pertaining to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft speed is greater than that of third gear for a given engine crankshaft speed, but not so great as that of fifth gear, if such exists
fourth gear
noun
4. 
a fourth part, esp. of one (1⁄4)
5. 
the fourth member of a series
6. Music
a. 
a tone on the fourth degree from a given tone (counted as the first)
b. 
the interval between such tones
c. 
the harmonic combination of such tones
7. Automobiles
fourth gear
She downshifted from fifth to fourth as we started up the hill
8. (cap; usually prec. by the)
Independence Day; the Fourth of July
adverb
9. 
in the fourth place; fourthly
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 950; ME fourthe, OE fēowertha. See four, -th2]
Word Frequency

fourth in British English

(fɔːθ )
adjective (usually prenominal)
1. 
a. 
coming after the third in order, position, time, etc. Often written: 4th
b. 
(as noun)
the fourth in succession
2. 
denoting the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in motor vehicles
noun
3.  music
a. 
the interval between one note and another four notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale
b. 
one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other
See also perfect (sense 9), interval (sense 5), diminished (sense 2)
4. 
the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle
he changed into fourth as soon as he had passed me
5.  a less common word for quarter (sense 2)
adverb also: fourthly
6. 
after the third person, position, event, etc
sentence connector also: fourthly
7. 
as the fourth point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Examples of 'fourth' in a sentence
fourth

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
That race worked out well with the third and fourth going in since.
The Sun (2016)
His new club squeezed into fourth place on the final day of last season.
The Sun (2017)
We were proud to be fourth last year and hope to be able to regain that status again soon.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The broker has pencilled in a 500 million charge in the fourth quarter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As big a waste of time as fourth officials have become, in fact.
The Sun (2016)
I am on the fourth one now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now the fourth series of the high-speed makeover show has arrived on our screens and the tiny residence is finished.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yesterday was a decent 40 and then a long wait to see when they would get their bonus point fourth try.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I represent the fourth generation of the company and I want to grow it into an international operation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The fourth generation of the family are taken on orchard tours.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was fourth last year but struggles to stay this distance.
The Sun (2011)
We are not playing good but we are already fourth in the table.
The Sun (2014)
Who wants to finish fourth or fifth?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His previous close fourth was a cracking effort.
The Sun (2011)
The setting is the fourth floor larder.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
And it spared them from a fourth defeat in five games.
The Sun (2009)
Three fourth places and one ignominious sixth place two years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The third and fourth have both scored since.
The Sun (2010)
That would have been good enough for fourth place in the specialist hurdles final.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He has just become a father for the fourth time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Preliminary data for the fourth quarter of the year will be published next month.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
All the political parties have failed fully to address such poverty in the fourth largest economy in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We now have the third and fourth generation growing up since then for whom it is simply outside their world view.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The fourth point is that in our society, most of us have to learn to listen.
Christianity Today (2000)
I had two with my fourth cup of coffee.
The Sun (2013)
It was the fourth equal fastest time in history, but has there been a more glorious quartet to watch?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
TWO goals, three points and fourth place.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What price trust of any sort, then, in the fourth century?
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)

Trends of
fourth

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In other languages
fourth

British English: fourth /fɔːθ/ ADJECTIVE
The fourth item in a series is the one that you count as number four.
Last year's winner is in fourth place.
  • American English: fourth /fɔrθ/
  • Arabic: رَابِع
  • Brazilian Portuguese: quarto
  • Chinese: 第四
  • Croatian: četvrti
  • Czech: čtvrtý
  • Danish: fjerde
  • Dutch: vierde
  • European Spanish: cuarto
  • Finnish: neljäs
  • French: quatrième
  • German: vierter
  • Greek: τέταρτος
  • Italian: quarto
  • Japanese: 四番目の
  • Korean: 네 번째의
  • Norwegian: fjerde
  • Polish: czwarty
  • European Portuguese: quarto
  • Romanian: al patrulea
  • Russian: четвертый
  • Spanish: cuarto
  • Swedish: fjärde
  • Thai: อันดับที่สี่
  • Turkish: dördüncü
  • Ukrainian: четвертий
  • Vietnamese: thứ tư thứ tự

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fourth

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Definition of fourth from the Collins English Dictionary
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Nov 21, 2021
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aubade
a song or poem appropriate to or greeting the dawn
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