first quarter
noun [ C, usually singular ]
ukus ACCOUNTING, FINANCE ( abbreviation Q1); ( US also fiscal first quarter)
the first three months in a company's financial year:
The company reported an excellent first quarter 2011.
Directors are scheduled to meet brokers today to discuss the firm's first-quarter performance.
the three months from January 1 to March 31:
The number of cars registered rose by 15% in the first quarter of this year.