Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - third

(thirds) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. The third item in a series is the one that you count as number three. I sleep on the third floor... It was the third time one of his cars had gone up in flames... ORD 2. A third is one of three equal parts of something. A third of the cost went into technology and services... FRACTION 3. You say third when you want to make a third point or give a third reason for something. First, interest rates may take longer to fall than is hoped. Second, in real terms, lending may fall. Third, bad loans could wipe out much of any improvement. = thirdly ADV: ADV with cl (not last in cl) 4. A third is the lowest honours degree that can be obtained from a British university. N-COUNT: usu sing