thirteen

American  

[thur-teen] / ˈθɜrˈtin /

noun

1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 3.

2. a symbol for this number, as 13 or XIII.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

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adjective

1. amounting to 13 in number.

thirteen British  

/ ˈθɜːˈtiːn /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and three and is a prime number See also number

2. a numeral, 13, XIII, etc, representing this number

3. the amount or quantity that is three more than ten; baker's dozen

4. something represented by, representing, or consisting of 13 units

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determiner

1. 1. amounting to thirteen

      thirteen buses

   2. ( as pronoun )

      thirteen of them fell

Usage

Spelling tips for 13 The word thirteen (13) is hard to spell because it doesn’t simply combine the spelling of the base number (three) with the suffix -teen, as is done in other easy-to-remember spellings like fourteen and sixteen.  How to spell thirteen: When three is combined with suffixes, it transforms from three (a cardinal number) to third (an ordinal number). Then, the d is dropped: thirteen (not thirdteen); thirty (not thirdty). Remember: there's no d in thirteen.

Etymology

Origin of thirteen

before 900; late Middle English thirttene, variant of Middle English thrittene, Old English thrēotēne; cognate with Dutch dertien, German dreizehn, Old Norse threttān. See three, -teen

Example Sentences

“That’s fine, young one. Stop on by whenever you want. The drive-in is open seven days a week, thirteen moon cycles a year. But there’s always a legendary grandparent or two around.”

From Literature

At thirteen he was a musical prodigy and a rascal and the pride of my life.

From Literature

A few moments after the maid leaves a new figure is approaching through the glass door—a boy several years younger than I am, thirteen or fourteen, pale and sallow-cheeked.

From Literature

The window let all the warm air in, and Iremember wondering if it would still be warm thirteen days later when the Cobra came.

From Literature

The dogs fairly hum with energy as we slide gleefully down the final hills into the checkpoint just before we go out on the ice and it is the end of day thirteen.

From Literature