Fifth
/fɪfθ/
Definitions
3 meaningsComing after the fourth in order; being the ordinal number five.
/fɪfθ/
Being number five in a sequence.
This is the fifth time I've seen this movie.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're running a race, and you cross the finish line in fifth place. You were the fifth person to finish! It's just a way of saying 'number five' in a specific order, like the fifth day of the week.
👶 For kids: It means being in the spot after number four. Like, if you're in line and four people are in front, you're fifth!
More Examples
The fifth grade is where children are usually ten years old.
The fifth season of the show will air next month.
How It's Used
"She was the fifth person in line."
"The fifth term in the sequence is 15."
One of five equal parts of something.
/fɪfθ/
One of five equal parts.
A fifth of the students were absent.
💡 Simply: If you split a pizza into five equal pieces, each piece is a fifth! It's just a fraction of the whole.
👶 For kids: If you have five cookies and you give one away, you gave away a fifth of the cookies!
More Examples
The musician played a fifth on the guitar.
He spent a fifth of his money on the trip.
How It's Used
"The interval of a perfect fifth is a fundamental concept in music theory."
"One-fifth of the pie was eaten."
In music, an interval spanning five degrees of the diatonic scale.
/fɪfθ/
A musical interval.
The composer used a dominant fifth in the final chord.
💡 Simply: In music, a fifth is a specific jump between notes on a scale, like going from 'do' to 'sol' in a song.
👶 For kids: In music, it's like a jump from one musical note to another one a little higher!
More Examples
The song featured a beautiful progression of fifths.
The musician tuned his instrument in perfect fifths.
How It's Used
"The melody ascends by a perfect fifth."
Idioms & expressions
at sixes and sevens
In a state of confusion or disorder.
"The meeting ended with everyone at sixes and sevens about the new project."
fifth wheel
A person who is part of a group but is not really needed or wanted, or one that is awkward and not included.
"I didn't want to be a fifth wheel on their date."
From Old English *fīfta*, a numeral derived from *fīf* 'five'. Cognate with German *fünfte*.
The word 'fifth' has been used in English for centuries, evolving from earlier forms.