thirds

n. two or more of the three equal parts that make up a whole.

n. the plural form of the fractional unit representing one of three equal parts of a whole.

“He cut the large pizza into thirds so that each of the three children had an equal piece.”

“The committee divided the annual budget into thirds, allocating specific portions to research, infrastructure, and administrative overheads.”

n. a third serving or helping of food or drink.

n. a third portion or helping of food or beverage provided to a single person.

“The cake was so delicious that I actually went back for thirds.”

“Despite having already finished two generous plates, the guest jokingly asked if the host would permit him to have thirds of the dessert.”

Informal

n. the lowest passing grade for a degree at a British university.

n. third-class honours degrees, representing the lowest passing tier of undergraduate classification in the British higher education system.

“He was disappointed to get a third, but he was glad to finally graduate.”

“While many top-tier firms only recruit graduates with firsts or upper-seconds, some smaller companies are willing to interview candidates with thirds if they have relevant experience.”

British English

n. a historical law where a widow received one-third of her late husband's property.

n. the portion of a deceased husband's estate to which a widow was entitled by law for the duration of her life.

“Under the old laws, the widow was granted her thirds to ensure she had a place to live.”

“The legal dispute centered on whether the local statutes regarding thirds applied to the movable property or strictly to the landed estate.”

Archaic · Technical