QUARTET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does quartet mean? 

• QUARTET (noun)
  The noun QUARTET has 5 senses:

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

2. four performers or singers who perform together

3. a set of four similar things considered as a unit

4. four people considered as a unit

5. a musical composition for four performers

  Familiarity information: QUARTET used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• QUARTET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

4; four; foursome; IV; Little Joe; quadruplet; quartet; quatern; quaternary; quaternion; quaternity; tetrad

Hypernyms ("quartet" is a kind of...):

digit; figure (one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Four performers or singers who perform together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

quartet; quartette

Hypernyms ("quartet" is a kind of...):

musical group; musical organisation; musical organization (an organization of musicians who perform together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "quartet"):

barbershop quartet (an unaccompanied quartet of (usually male) voices singing sentimental songs in four-part harmony)

string quartet; string quartette (an instrumental quartet with 2 violins and a viola and a cello)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A set of four similar things considered as a unit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

quadruple; quadruplet; quartet; quartette

Hypernyms ("quartet" is a kind of...):

set (a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Four people considered as a unit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

foursome; quartet; quartette

Context example:

the foursome teed off before 9 a.m.

Hypernyms ("quartet" is a kind of...):

assemblage; gathering (a group of persons together in one place)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "quartet"):

quadrumvirate (a group of four men)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A musical composition for four performers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

quartet; quartette

Hypernyms ("quartet" is a kind of...):

composition; musical composition; opus; piece; piece of music (a musical work that has been created)

 Context examples 

Several critical structure-activity relationships between HIV-1 integrase and G-quartet oligonucleotides have been demonstrated.

(G-Quartets, NCI Thesaurus)

Amidst this hush the quartet sped; he replaced the watch, laid the picture down, rose, and stood on the hearth.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

G-quartet structures has been developed as novel anti-HIV agents.

(G-Quartets, NCI Thesaurus)

G-quadruplexes are multi-stranded structures held together by square planes of four guanines ('G-quartets') interacting by forming Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds.

(G-Quartets, NCI Thesaurus)

Even Jordan's party, the quartet from East Egg, were rent asunder by dissension.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

When the Jazz History of the World was over girls were putting their heads on men's shoulders in a puppyish, convivial way, girls were swooning backward playfully into men's arms, even into groups knowing that some one would arrest their falls—but no one swooned backward on Gatsby and no French bob touched Gatsby's shoulder and no singing quartets were formed with Gatsby's head for one link.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)