θə:d n. & adj. --n. 1
the position in a
sequence corresponding to
that of the
number 3 in the sequence 1-3. 2
something occupying
this position. 3
each of
three equal parts of a
thing. 4 = third
gear. 5 Mus. a an
interval or chord spanning three
consecutive notes in the
diatonic scale (e.g. C to E). b a
note separated
from another by this interval. 6 a a
place in the third
class in an
examination. b a
person having this. --adj. that is the third. øthird-best adj. of third
quality. --n. a thing in this
category. third class the third-best
group or category,
esp. of
hotel and train accommodation. third-class adj. 1 belonging to or travelling by the third class. 2 of lower quality;
inferior. --adv. by the third class (travels third-class). third
degree long and
severe questioning esp. by
police to
obtain information or a
confession. third-degree
Med. denoting burns of the
most severe kind, affecting lower layers of
tissue. third
eye 1
Hinduism &
Buddhism the 'eye of insight' in the
forehead of an
image of a
deity, esp. the
god Siva. 2 the
faculty of
intuitive insight. third force a
political group or party
acting as a check on
conflict between two opposing parties. third gear the third (and
often next to highest) in a sequence of gears. third
man 1 a
fielder positioned
near the
boundary behind the slips. 2 this position. third
part each of three equal parts
into which a thing is or might be divided. third party 1 another party
besides the two principals. 2 a
bystander etc. third-party adj. (of insurance)
covering damage or
injury suffered by a person
other than the
insured. third person 1 = third party. 2 Gram. see PERSON. third-rate inferior;
very poor in quality. third
reading a third
presentation of a bill to a
legislative assembly, in the UK to
debate committee reports and in the US to
consider it
for the last
time. Third
Reich see REICH. Third
World (usu. prec. by the) the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and
Latin America. øøthirdly adv. [OE third(d)a, thridda f. Gmc]
