Word · Frequency #29261
quaternary
第四纪
the last 2 million years of geological time (the Quaternary period)
- 1.
A quaternary compound.
四元化合物。
- 2.
The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.
第四纪时期或第四纪沉积的体系。
四元化合物。；第四纪时期或第四纪沉积的体系。
In use
Scientists study rocks from the Quaternary to understand recent climate change.
The Quaternary includes the Pleistocene and the Holocene epochs.
Many animals that lived during the Quaternary are now extinct.
the Quaternary
名词，大写，指地质年代的第四纪，常搭配定冠词 the。
The Quaternary is the most recent geological period.
第四纪是最近的地质时期。
quaternary [noun]
形容词，小写，表示“四元的、四价的”或“四个一组的”，常用于科技语境。
The quaternary structure of a protein determines its function.
蛋白质的四级结构决定其功能。
Common mistakes
The company publishes quaternary financial reports.
Connections
Collocations
- Quaternary period
- 第四纪
- The Quaternary period began about 2.6 million years ago.第四纪始于大约260万年前。
- quaternary structure
- 四级结构
- The quaternary structure of a protein is formed by several polypeptide chains.蛋白质的四级结构由几条多肽链形成。
- quaternary ammonium compound
- 季铵化合物
- Quaternary ammonium compounds are widely used as disinfectants.季铵化合物广泛用作消毒剂。
- quaternary sector
- 第四产业
- The quaternary sector includes services such as research and information technology.第四产业包括研究和信息技术等服务。
- quaternary alloy
- 四元合金
- A quaternary alloy is made from four different elements.四元合金由四种不同的元素制成。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想：quaternary开头qua像quarter（四分之一），所以记住它有'四'的含义——第四纪就是'四'的那一纪。（纯记忆联想）
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：geology、earth science、academic writing 该义项指地质学中的第四纪（距今约260万年前至今），是较正式的专业术语，通常用于地质学教材、学术论文或科普读物中；日常口语中很少使用。
Grammar Note
名词义指第四纪（地质时期），常作 the Quaternary。
Pronunciation & Spelling
只有 ternary /ˈtɜːnəri/ 与 quaternary /kwəˈtɜːnəri/ 押韵。binary、tertiary、ordinary、imaginary 虽形似或都以 -ary 结尾，但重读元音或后续辅音不同，并不押韵。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.