four

num

1. A numerical value equal to 4; the number after three and before five; two plus two. This many dots (••••)

   “There are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.”

   “Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.”

   “Redding’s study asked four psychologists with expertise in anxiety and depressive disorders to rate each self-help book on five criteria: […]”

2. Describing a set or group with four elements.

noun

1. (countable)The digit or figure 4; an occurrence thereof.
2. (countable)Anything measuring four units, as length.

   “Do you have any more fours? I want to make this a little taller.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Four o'clock.

   “Letters to Sheffield are despatched every morning at six, and arrive every afternoon at ten minutes past four.”

   “Frederick, I presume, at this late hour of four, may be snatching a morsel of dinner; […]”

   “The larger ships picked up the low lying atoll on their radar about four in the morning at distances from 16 to 26 miles.”

4. (countable, uncountable)A person who is four years old.

   “I'll take the threes, fours and fives and go to the playground.”

5. (countable)An event in which the batsmen run four times between the wickets or, more often, a batsman hits a ball which bounces on the ground before passing over a boundary, resulting in an award of 4 runs for the batting team. If the ball does not bounce before passing over the boundary, a six is awarded instead.
6. (countable)A power forward.
7. (countable, uncountable)Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain.

   “The team bought a new four last season.”

8. (countable, uncountable)Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain.

   “Our four won both races.”

9. (colloquial, countable, uncountable)Four-man sweep racing shell, with or without a coxswain.

   “We got third place in the varsity four.”

10. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)A four-pennyworth of spirits.

    “I was a-strollin' down, thinkin' between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be, when suddenly the glint of a light caught my eye in the window of that same house.”