Basic Details
Word: Ordinal
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Relating to a position in a series, such as first, second, or third.
Synonyms: Sequential, ranking
Antonyms: Cardinal, non-sequential
Idioms and Phrases
- In the ordinal sense: Used to describe something concerning its position in order rather than its quantity. Example: "When discussing the races, we were focused on the winner in the ordinal sense, not just how many participated."
- Ordinary, but not ordinal: Referring to something that is common but does not have a specific ranking. Example: "Her achievements are quite ordinary, but they are special in that they are not ordinal, following no set path."
Usage Examples
Example 1: In a race, the first, second, and third places are considered ordinal positions.
Example 2: When counting, we often use cardinal numbers, but rankings use ordinal numbers like first, second, and third.
Example 3: The ordinal value of the book on the shelf indicates that it is the fifth one in the series.
Fun Fact
Did you know that ordinal numbers date back to ancient times and were used by the Romans for counting and ranking in competitions?
Famous Quote
"The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." - Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "ordinal" mean?
a) Relating to quantity
b) Relating to a position in a series
c) Relating to colour
d) Relating to size
Answer: b) Relating to a position in a series
2. Which of these is a synonym of "ordinal"?
a) Ranking
b) Circular
c) Colourful
d) Large
Answer: a) Ranking
3. Which of these is an antonym of "ordinal"?
a) Sequential
b) Cardinal
c) Regular
d) Unusual
Answer: b) Cardinal
4. Which sentence uses "ordinal" correctly?
a) The ordinal number five is larger than the number three.
b) An ordinal number describes a quantity.
c) She came in first place, which is her ordinal ranking.
d) Ordinal colours are brighter than cardinal colours.
Answer: c) She came in first place, which is her ordinal ranking.
5. Which idiom uses "ordinal" in the context of ranking?
a) Ordinary, but not ordinal
b) A bird in the hand
c) The early bird catches the worm
d) Apples and oranges
Answer: a) Ordinary, but not ordinal
