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tertiary

ter·ti·ar·y [ túrshee èrree, túrshəree ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. third: third in degree, order, place, or importance ( formal )

2. birds describes bird's innermost flight feathers: describes the few flight feathers nearest a bird's body on the rear edge of a wing, making up the third row of feathers

3. chemistry formed by replacement of atoms: relating to or derived by the replacement of three atoms or groups, especially the replacement of the three hydrogen atoms in ammonia with alkyl groups to form amines

4. chemistry of three bonded carbons: relating to or containing a carbon atom that has direct bonds to three other carbon atoms



noun  (plural ter·ti·ar·ies)
Definition:
 
1. birds bird's innermost flight feather: a feather on the innermost rear edge of a bird's wing

2. christianity member of lay group: in the Roman Catholic Church, a member of a group of the laity associated with a religious order

[Mid-16th century. < Latin tertiarius "of the third part or rank" < tertius "third"]
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