third
third / [unvoicedth]ərd/ • ordinal number constituting number three in a sequence; 3rd: the third century the third of October Edward the Third. ∎ (a third/one third) each of three equal parts into which something is or may be divided: a third of a mile. ∎ the third finisher or position in a race or competition: Hill finished third. ∎ the third in a sequence of a vehicle's gears: he took the corner in third. ∎ Baseball third base. ∎ the third grade of a school. ∎ thirdly (used to introduce a third point or reason): second, they are lightly regulated; and third, they do business with nonresident clients. ∎ Mus. an interval spanning three consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, e.g., C to E (major third, equal to two tones) or A to C (minor third, equal to a tone and a semitone). ∎ Mus. the note that is higher by this interval than the tonic of a diatonic scale or root of a chord. ∎ Brit. a place in the third-highest grade in an examination, esp. that for a degree.PHRASES: third time is a charm (or Brit. third time lucky) used to express the hope that, after twice failing to accomplish something, one may succeed in the third attempt.