fourth

[fawrth, fohrth]

adjective

1. next after the third; being the ordinal number for four.

2. being one of four equal parts.

3. Automotive.,  of, relating 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

1. a fourth part, especially of one (¼).

2. the fourth member of a series.

3. Music.

   1. a tone on the fourth degree from a given tone (counted as the first).

   2. the interval between such tones.

   3. the harmonic combination of such tones.

4. Automotive.,  fourth gear.

   She downshifted from fifth to fourth as we started up the hill.

5. the Fourth. Independence Day; the Fourth of July.

adverb

1. in the fourth place; fourthly.

fourth

/ fɔːθ /

adjective

1. 1. coming after the third in order, position, time, etc. Often written: 4th

   2. ( as noun )

      the fourth in succession

2. denoting the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in motor vehicles

noun

1. music

   1. the interval between one note and another four notes away from it counting inclusively along the diatonic scale

   2. one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other See also perfect interval diminished

2. the fourth forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle

   he changed into fourth as soon as he had passed me

3. a less common word for quarter

adverb

1. after the third person, position, event, etc

1. as the fourth point: linking what follows with the previous statements, as in a speech or argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of fourth¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English fourthe, Old English fēowertha; four, -th ²

Example Sentences

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that even prior to Saturday's loss - their fourth from five Premier League games - the Hammers had started the process of identifying potential replacements for Potter.

From BBC

Fittingly, it was the day after their fourth studio album, The Great Escape, was released.

From BBC

This should be close into the fourth quarter, but the Chargers will make the pivotal plays in the final four minutes to pull away.

From Los Angeles Times

By the fourth, it was clear Kershaw was not long for the evening.

From Los Angeles Times

Now in their fourth decade as a group, Nine Inch Nails — the duo of Reznor and producer/keyboardist Atticus Ross along with a closely held touring band — does two difficult things extraordinarily well.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• one-fourth www.thesaurus.com
• part 
• portion 
• term