quadruplet
C1Formal, Technical, Medical
Definition
Meaning
One of four children born to the same mother at the same time.
A group or set of four identical or similar things; in music, a group of four notes to be played in the time of three.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes one of four siblings from a single birth. The musical and general 'group of four' senses are less common and more technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Quadruplets' as a collective term is standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral/medical in both varieties. Can carry connotations of rarity, medical complexity, or family logistics.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly more common in American media due to higher reporting of multiple births.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[mother] gave birth to quadruplets[They] are quadrupletsa quadruplet of [notes/objects]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Used in demography, medical, and genetics research (e.g., 'studies of quadruplet development').
Everyday
Rare. Used when discussing rare multiple births or large families.
Technical
Precise term in obstetrics/paediatrics. Also in music theory for a 'quadruplet' note group.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The quadruplet birth made national news.
- They studied quadruplet pregnancies.
American English
- The quadruplet delivery required a large medical team.
- She wrote a book about her quadruplet experience.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is very rare for a woman to have quadruplets.
- The quadruplets all have the same birthday.
- The family gained instant fame after the birth of identical quadruplets.
- Raising quadruplets requires immense organisation and support.
- The longitudinal study followed the cognitive development of each quadruplet separately.
- In the score, the composer used a challenging quadruplet passage over a triplet rhythm in the bass.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'quad' for four and 'uplet' like in 'triplet' or 'duplet' – it follows the same pattern for a set of four.
Conceptual Metaphor
RARITY AS A PRECIOUS SET (e.g., 'a rare quadruplet of discoveries').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'квартет' (quartet), which is for musical groups. The direct equivalent is 'четверня' (one of four siblings). The musical term 'quadruplet' is a specific technical term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quadruplet' to mean a group of four unrelated people (use 'quartet' or 'foursome').
- Misspelling as 'quadrapulet' or 'quadraplet'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'quadruplet' LEAST likely to be used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Quads' is an informal, shortened version of 'quadruplets'. Both refer to the four siblings. 'Quadruplets' is the standard formal term.
Yes, but it's specialised. In music, it's a group of four equal notes. It can poetically or technically denote any set of four identical items (e.g., 'a quadruplet of experimental engines'), but this is rare.
The primary American pronunciation stresses the second syllable: /kwɑːˈdruːplɪt/ (kwa-DROO-plit). A less common variant stresses the first syllable like the British version.
Yes, that is grammatically correct. It means she is one of four siblings born at the same time. You can also say 'They are quadruplets'.