five

[fahyv]

noun

1. a cardinal number, four plus one.

2. a symbol for this number, as 5 or V.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with five pips.

5. Informal.,  a five-dollar bill.

   Can you give me two fives for a ten?

adjective

1. amounting to five in number.

five

/ faɪv /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

2. a numeral, 5, V, etc, representing this number

3. the amount or quantity that is one greater than four

4. something representing, represented by, or consisting of five units, such as a playing card with five symbols on it

determiner

1. 1. amounting to five

      five minutes

      five nights

   2. ( as pronoun )

      choose any five you like

Word History and Origins

Origin of five¹

before 1000; 1925–30 five for def. 7; Middle English; Old English fīf; cognate with Dutch vijf, German fünf, Old Norse fimm, Gothic fimf, Latin quīnque, Greek pénte, Sanskrit pancha

Word History and Origins

Origin of five¹

Old English fīf ; related to Old Norse fimm , Gothic fimf , Old High German finf , Latin quinque , Greek pente , Sanskrit pañca

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take five, to take a brief respite.

see take five.

Example Sentences

In the rugged Appalachian hills of West Virginia, five hours west of the nation’s capital, fierce community bonds and family ties define life.

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Village Lighting Co., which has 11 full-time employees and five seasonal ones, makes its products in China and elsewhere in Asia.

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Additional value comes, too, from a take on Franco that rests on nearly five decades of Spanish democracy.

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The percentage of Americans who identify as Christians leveled off in the last five years after a long period of steady decline, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.

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Authorities believe Lakanwal lives in Bellingham with his wife and five children.

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