sixty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “sixty” mean?
The cardinal number equal to six times ten.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equal to six times ten; 60.
Often used to refer to age (e.g., in one's sixties), time (sixty minutes), or as a round number in various contexts such as quantities, measurements, and decades.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation is nearly identical, with minor variations in vowel length or consonant articulation in casual speech.
Connotations
Generally neutral in both varieties. Can imply specificity, age, or quantity without strong cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English due to its basic numerical function.
Grammar
How to Use “sixty” in a Sentence
numeral + noun (e.g., sixty books)in the + sixty + plural noun (e.g., in the sixties)at + sixty + years oldVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixty” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The bell chimed sixty times.
American English
- The score rose by sixty points.
adjective
British English
- She purchased a sixty-pound jacket.
American English
- He drove a sixty-mile distance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in financial contexts, e.g., 'sixty percent return on investment.'
Academic
Common in research and statistics, e.g., 'a sample size of sixty subjects.'
Everyday
Frequent in daily conversation, e.g., 'Wait sixty seconds.'
Technical
In sciences and engineering, e.g., 'sixty hertz alternating current.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixty”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixty”
- Confusing 'sixty' with 'sixteen' in speech or writing.
- Attempting to use 'sixty' as a verb in non-standard contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can function as both: as a noun in 'Sixty is a round number,' and as an adjective in 'sixty people.'
In American English, it is pronounced /ˈsɪksti/, with a clear /t/ sound, though in casual speech it may be flapped in some dialects.
As a numeral, it doesn't have a plural, but when referring to the decade or age group, it becomes 'sixties' (e.g., 'the sixties').
Yes, such as 'sixty years' for age or duration, 'sixty minutes' for time, and 'sixty percent' for proportions.
The cardinal number equal to six times ten.
Sixty is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sixty-something (referring to age in the 60s)”
- “sixty minutes (an hour)”
- “the swinging sixties (the 1960s decade)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'six' and add 'ty' as in other tens like twenty or thirty; sixty is six tens.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often represents a milestone in age or time, symbolizing maturity or a specific duration.
Practice
Quiz
What is typically meant by 'the sixties' in cultural context?