third
- 01 A1 Beginner
num.coming after the second person or thing.
num.the ordinal number matching the cardinal number three in a sequence.
Simple“This is the third time I have asked you to clean your room.”
In context“The third candidate presented a significantly more robust strategy for market expansion than the previous two applicants.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.one of three equal parts of something.
n.one of three equal parts into which a whole is or may be divided.
Simple“He ate a third of the pizza and left the rest for his brother.”
In context“The survey indicates that nearly a third of the population remains undecided about the proposed constitutional changes.”
Synonymsone third - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the third gear in a car or bicycle.
n.the third gear in a transmission system, providing a balance of torque and speed.
Simple“You should shift into third gear once you reach thirty miles per hour.”
In context“The driver struggled to engage third as the car laboured up the steep incline, eventually forcing a downshift back to second.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the distance between the first and third notes in a scale.
n.an interval spanning three scale degrees, which determines the major or minor quality of a chord.
Simple“The singer struggled to hit the major third in the opening chorus.”
In context“The composer utilised a series of parallel thirds to create a folk-like texture in the woodwind section.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.the lowest passing grade for a university degree in the UK.
n.a third-class honours degree, representing the lowest level of passing honours in the British university system.
Simple“He was disappointed to graduate with a third after three years of study.”
In context“While a third may limit immediate entry into prestigious graduate schemes, many professionals find that experience eventually outweighs their initial degree classification.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to be the third person to agree with a formal idea in a meeting.
v.to support a motion or proposal after it has already been moved and seconded.
Simple“I'll third that suggestion; let's go get some lunch.”
In context“After the motion was seconded by the treasurer, the chairman asked if anyone wished to third the proposal before moving to a vote.”
UsageUsually used in formal committee settings or as a lighthearted way to show strong agreement.
Usage third parties · third consecutive · third party
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English thirde, thridde, from Old English þridda, from Proto-Germanic þridjô, from Pre-Germanic tretyós, a remodeling of Proto-Indo-European *tr̥tyós.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.