four

numeral

1. 1

   A numerical value equal to 4; the number after three and before five; two plus two. This many dots (••••)

   There are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

   Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.

   Redding’s study asked four psychologists with expertise in anxiety and depressive disorders to rate each self-help book on five criteria: […]

2. 2

   Describing a set or group with four elements.

noun

1. 1

   The digit or figure 4; an occurrence thereof.

2. 2

   Anything measuring four units, as length.

   Do you have any more fours? I want to make this a little taller.

3. 3

   Four o'clock.

   Letters to Sheffield are despatched every morning at six, and arrive every afternoon at ten minutes past four.

   Frederick, I presume, at this late hour of four, may be snatching a morsel of dinner; […]

   The larger ships picked up the low lying atoll on their radar about four in the morning at distances from 16 to 26 miles.

4. 4

   A person who is four years old.

   I'll take the threes, fours and fives and go to the playground.

5. 5

   An event in which the batsmen run four times between the wickets or, more often, a batsman hits a ball which bounces on the ground before passing over a boundary, resulting in an award of 4 runs for the batting team. If the ball does not bounce before passing over the boundary, a six is awarded instead.

6. 6

   A power forward.

7. 7

   Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain. The shell itself.

   The team bought a new four last season.

8. 8

   Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain. The crew rowing in a four boat.

   Our four won both races.

9. 9

   Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain. A regatta event for four boats.

   We got third place in the varsity four.

10. 10

    obsoleteA four-pennyworth of spirits.

    I was a-strollin' down, thinkin' between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be, when suddenly the glint of a light caught my eye in the window of that same house.

Forms

plural

fours