quaternion
- noun
- /kwɔːrˈtɛniən/
- Archaic
:
cuaternión
- The artist arranged the sculptures in a quaternion to represent the four seasons.
Examples
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The team consisted of a quaternion of experts.
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Each team was divided into a quaternion for the group project.
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A quaternion of guards stood at each corner of the ancient castle gate.
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We need a quaternion of volunteers for the project.
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The project team was divided into four distinct quaternions, each responsible for a different aspect of the work.
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During the meeting, the teacher assigned the students into quaternions for their group activity, ensuring each group had exactly four members.
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To enhance collaboration, the company formed quaternions of four employees to tackle the new marketing strategy.
Synonyms
21
3.2
A group of four people who meet or play together
15
3.3
A set of four people or things thought of as one unit
1
6.2
A group of four similar things treated as one
A set of four things or people seen as one group
A set of four related things
How Many
Surface Forms
Morphology
quaternion = quaternary (opaque) = quatern + ion
The form 'quatern-' meaning 'four' is not a productive or familiar standalone English base for most learners, so the relation to 'four' is not obvious.
Etymology
The word quaternion comes from the Latin quaternio, which means 'a set of four'. It is related to words like quartet and quarter, so a quaternion simply means a group of four people or things.