Decade

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›keɪd/
• US enPR: dÄ•k'ād, IPA: /ˈdÉ›keɪd/, /dəˈkeɪd/
• Rhymes: -eɪd
• Homophones: decayed for one US pronunciation of decade

Origin

From Middle English, from Middle French decade, from Late Latin decas ("(set of) ten"), from Ancient Greek δέκας, from δέκα (déka, "ten").

Full definition of decade

Noun

1. A series or group of ten things. from 16th c.a decade of soldiers
2. A period of ten years. from 17th c.
• Schuster Hepaticae V|viiiThe repeated exposure, over decades, to most taxa here treated has resulted in repeated modifications of both diagnoses and discussions, as initial ideas of the various taxa underwent—often repeated—conceptual modification.
• 1979, December, Museums, Thru May: 1920s — The Decade That Roared. New exhibition portraying historical events and everyday life during the Roaring Twenties.
• 2013-03, David S. Senchina, Athletics and Herbal Supplements, Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades.
3. (French history) In the French Revolutionary calendar, a group of ten days. from 18th c.
• 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 481:The year was divided up into twelve months renamed after the seasons ...; each month comprised three ‘decades’ of ten days – with the décadi replacing Sundays as a day of rest; and each day was reconsecrated to a natural product or farming tool or technique.
4. (Roman Catholicism) A series of ten Hail Marys in the rosary. (Does a "decade" in this sense include just the 10 Hail Marys, or also the Our Father and Glory Be?)
5. (physics, engineering) The interval between any two quantities having the ratio 10 to 1.There are decades between 1.8 and 18, between 25 and 250 and between 0.03 and 0.003.

Usage notes

It is sometimes but very rarely claimed that decades run from xx01-xx10 instead of the usual xx00-xx09. Be aware lest confusion arise from this.

Synonyms

• (ten years) decennium