ternate

¹

[ tur-nit, -neyt ]

adjective

1. consisting of three; arranged in threes.
2. Botany.
   1. consisting of three leaflets, as a compound leaf.
   2. having leaves arranged in whorls of three, as a plant.

Ternate

²

[ ter-nah-te; English ter-nah-tee ]

noun

1. an island in E Indonesia, W of Halmahera: important source of spices. 53 sq. mi. (137 sq. km).

ternate

/ ˈtɜːnɪt; -neɪt /

adjective

1. (esp of a leaf) consisting of three leaflets or other parts
2. (esp of plants) having groups of three members

Derived Forms

• ˈternately, adverb

Other Words From

• ternate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ternate¹

From the New Latin word ternātus, dating back to 1745–55. See tern ², -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ternate¹

C18: from New Latin ternātus, from Medieval Latin ternāre to increase threefold

Example Sentences

Size and appearance of n. 1; leaves only twice ternate; flowers white, fewer; achenes 5–10, flat, somewhat crescent-shaped, tapering into the slender stipe.—Mountains of Va. and southward.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves.—All radical; twice to thrice ternately compound.

From Project Gutenberg

Biternate, twice ternate; i. e. principal divisions three, each bearing three leaflets, 59.

From Project Gutenberg

So far as I can judge from these circumstances, I p. 87suppose that it is a species of Smilax, with ternate leaves. 

From Project Gutenberg

It broadens and divides atop into three or four lobes, and these, in turn, broaden and divide into minor lobes, double or ternate, and usually rounded at their terminations.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• threefold