Decade

Definition

Decade is a noun that refers to a period of ten years. It is often used to denote specific intervals in history, particularly when referring to the years within a century, such as "the 1990s" or "the first decade of the 21st century."

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɛkeɪd/
• Respelling: DEK-ayd

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɛkeɪd/ or /dɪˈkeɪd/
• Respelling: DEK-ayd or dih-KAYD

Etymology

The word "decade" originates from the Greek "dekas," meaning "a group of ten," and later passed into Latin as "decas." It was adopted into Middle French as "décade" before entering English, where it came to signify a ten-year span.

Derivatives

• Decadal (adjective)
• Decade-long (adjective)
• Decennium (noun)
• Decadence (noun)
• Decadent (adjective)

Synonyms

• Ten years
• Period
• Span

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "decade" is often used in historical, scientific, and cultural contexts to discuss periods of time marked by significant events or trends, such as "the 1920s" or "a decade of innovation."

Related Terms

• Century: A period of one hundred years.
• Millennium: A period of one thousand years.
• Era: A long and distinct period of history with particular features or characteristics.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A period of ten years: Used to denote any ten-year period, particularly within a historical or cultural context.
  • Example: "The 1960s were a memorable decade in American history."
• A unit of ten years in a larger sequence or timeline: Commonly used in scientific and statistical contexts to group information by ten-year intervals.
  • Example: "Temperature data was analyzed by decades to identify climate trends."