four
a cardinal number, three plus one.
a symbol of this number, 4 or IV or IIII.
a set of this many persons or things.
a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with four pips.
fours, Jazz. alternate four-bar passages, as played in sequence by different soloists: with guitar and piano trading fours.
Automotive.
an automobile powered by a four-cylinder engine.
the engine itself.
amounting to four in number.
Idioms about four
on all fours. all fours (def. 3).
Origin of four
1Words that may be confused with four
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use four in a sentence
Inside, sat at a man on all fours, one high-heeled shoe in his mouth, the other protruding from his ass.
More recently, Deadspin reported another rumor about Derek Jeter asking for the same sexual favor, while positioned on all fours.
The ‘Back Door’ Is Having Its Pop Culture Moment | Gabriella Paiella | September 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA meaty neigh came out of the man before him, stark naked and on all fours.
At the workings you see them on all fours, skipping round the pit props almost like dogs.
You go down on all fours; even this is a relief after the squatting business.
The party left their horses, put black frocks over their armour, and crept forward on all fours like cattle.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonI've no doubt that they've taught him something about—er—bombs and—er—which end a revolver goes off, and how to form fours.
First Plays | A. A. MilneThe smaller forms of these usually move on all fours in the trees, though the arms are always ready for a swing or a climb.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisWith an angry growl of pain the great beast came down upon all fours and charged the little group.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. ThompsonBuster plopped down on all fours, as if he understood perfectly, and took a bite at my shoe string.
The Idyl of Twin Fires | Walter Prichard Eaton
British Dictionary definitions for four
/ (fɔː) /
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
a numeral, 4, IV, etc, representing this number
something representing, represented by, or consisting of four units, such as a playing card with four symbols on it
Also called: four o'clock four hours after noon or midnight
cricket
a shot that crosses the boundary after hitting the ground
the four runs scored for such a shot
rowing
a racing shell propelled by four oarsmen pulling one oar each, with or without a cox
the crew of such a shell
amounting to four: four thousand eggs; four times
(as pronoun): four are ready
Origin of four
1Other words from four
- Related prefixes: quadri-, tetra-
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with four
In addition to the idioms beginning with four
- four corners of the earth, the
also see:
- between you and me and (the four walls)
- on all fours
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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