TERTIARY Meaning and
Definition
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Tertiary is an adjective that denotes something as being third in order, rank, or importance. It originates from the Latin word "tertiarius," which means third.
In a general context, it describes something that follows two others in a series. For example, when referring to academic education, tertiary education refers to the level of education that follows primary and secondary education. It encompasses universities, colleges, and vocational schools.
In a scientific or geological context, tertiary can refer to a specific period in the Earth's history. The Tertiary Era, also known as the Cenozoic Era, is the period that begins after the extinction of the dinosaurs and spans from around 65 million to 2.6 million years ago.
Additionally, tertiary can refer to the third level of importance or significance in a particular system or classification. For instance, in the classification of colors, the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow, while the secondary colors are green, orange, and purple. Tertiary colors are then created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color, resulting in shades like red-violet or blue-green.
Furthermore, tertiary can also describe a specific industry or sector within an economy. Tertiary sector refers to the sector that offers services rather than producing raw materials or manufacturing goods. It includes industries such as transportation, healthcare, banking, tourism, and entertainment.
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• Third; pert. to the third.
• The third or upper great division of the stratified systems, as distinguished from secondary and primary.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of TERTIARY
The word "tertiary" originated from the Latin word "tertius", which means "third". It comes from the same root as the Latin words "tertius", "tertia", and "tertium", all of which pertain to the number three. Over time, "tertiary" has been adopted into English to specifically refer to the third in order or rank, following "primary" and "secondary". Additionally, it is commonly used to describe higher education levels beyond secondary school, such as college or university education.
Idioms with the word TERTIARY
Similar spelling words for TERTIARY
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