third Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
    tierce; one-third.
    • it contains approximately a third of the minimum daily requirement
  2. noun the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the third of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)
    third base.
    • he is playing third
  3. noun following the second position in an ordering or series
    • a distant third
    • he answered the first question willingly, the second reluctantly, and the third with resentment
  4. noun the musical interval between one note and another three notes away from it
    • a simple harmony written in major thirds
  5. noun the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle
    third gear.
    • you shouldn't try to start in third gear
  6. noun the base that must be touched third by a base runner in baseball
    third base.
    • he was cut down on a close play at third
  7. adjective satellite coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position
    tertiary; 3rd.
  8. adverb in the third place
    thirdly.
    • third we must consider unemployment

WordNet


Third adjective
Etymology
OE. thirde, AS. ridda, fr. ri, reó, three; akin to D. derde third, G. dritte, Icel. rii, Goth. ridja, L. tertius, Gr. , Skr. ttiya. See Three, and cf. Riding a jurisdiction, Tierce.
Definitions
  1. Next after the second; coming after two others; -- the ordinal of three; as, the thirdhour in the day. "The third night." Chaucer.
  2. Constituting or being one of three equal parts into which anything is divided; as, the third part of a day.
Third noun
Definitions
  1. The quotient of a unit divided by three; one of three equal parts into which anything is divided.
  2. The sixtieth part of a second of time.
  3. (Mus.) The third tone of the scale; the mediant.
  4. pl. (Law) The third part of the estate of a deseased husband, which, by some local laws, the widow is entitled to enjoy during her life.

Webster 1913