tertiary

views updated May 23 2018

ter·ti·ar·y / ˈtərshēˌerē; -shərē/ • adj. 1. third in order or level: most of the enterprises were of tertiary importance the tertiary stage of the disease.2. (Tertiary) Geol. of, relating to, or denoting the first period of the Cenozoic era, between the Cretaceous and Quaternary periods, and comprising the Paleogene and Neogene subperiods.3. Chem. (of an organic compound) having its functional group located on a carbon atom that is itself bonded to three other carbon atoms. ∎  Chem. (chiefly of amines) derived from ammonia by replacement of three hydrogen atoms by organic groups.• n. 1. (the Tertiary) Geol. the Tertiary period or the system of rocks deposited during it.2. a lay associate of certain Christian monastic organizations: a Franciscan tertiary.

tertiary

views updated May 23 2018

tertiary a lay associate of certain Christian monastic organizations, as of the Franciscan Third Order.