forties Definition

forties
plural noun

1. The period of time between one's fortieth and fiftieth birthdays

Example: Gill is in her forties.
Form: one's forties
2a. The range of temperatures between forty and fifty degrees;

Example: It must be in the forties today
Form: the forties
2b. The period of time between the fortieth and fiftieth years of a century.

Example: died in the 40s
Form: the forties


Example: forties music

Idiom: the roaring forties

The area of stormy west winds south of latitude 40°S, or north of latitude 40°N in the Atlantic.

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forty
noun forties

1a. The cardinal number 40;
1b. The quantity that this represents, being one more than thirty-nine, or the product of ten and four.
2. Any symbol for this, eg 40 or XL. Also in compounds, forming adjectives and nouns with cardinal numbers between one and nine.

Example: forty-three
3. The age of forty.
4. Something, especially a garment or a person, whose size is denoted by the number 40.
5. A set or group of forty people or things.
6. A score of forty points.

adj

1. Totalling forty. Also in compounds, forming adjectives and nouns, with ordinal numbers between first and ninth.

Example: forty-third
2. Aged forty. See also forties, fortieth.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon feowertig; see four + -ty.