determinate

American  

[dih-tur-muh-nit, dih-tur-muh-neyt] / dɪˈtɜr mə nɪt, dɪˈtɜr məˌneɪt /

adjective

1. having defined limits; definite.

2. settled; positive.

3. conclusive; final.

4. resolute.

5. Botany. (of an inflorescence) having the primary and each secondary axis ending in a flower or bud, thus preventing further elongation.

6. Engineering.

   1. (of a structure) able to be analyzed completely by means of the principles of statics.

   2. (of a member of a structure) subject only to definite, known stresses.

   3. (of a stress) able to be determined through the principles of statics.

---

verb (used with object)

determinated, determinating

1. to make certain of.

2. to identify.

determinate British  

/ dɪˈtɜːmɪnɪt /

adjective

1. definitely limited, defined, or fixed; distinct

2. a less common word for determined

3. 1. able to be predicted or deduced

   2. (of an effect) obeying the law of causality

4. botany (of an inflorescence) having the main and branch stems ending in flowers and unable to grow further; cymose

5. (of a structure, stress, etc) able to be fully analysed or determined

---

determinate Scientific  

/ dĭ-tûr′mə-nĭt /

1. Precisely determined, limited, or defined.

2. Not continuing to grow at an apical meristem. In the cyme, a determinate inflorescence, for example, the first floret develops at the end of the meristem, and no further elongation of the inflorescence can occur.

---

Other Word Forms

• determinately
  adverb
• determinateness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of determinate

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēterminātus, past participle of dētermināre. See determine, -ate ¹

Explanation

Do you have a determinate personal budget? Welcome to the club. So do most people, unless you happen to be Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. Anything determinate has a fixed limit to it. Slightly differently, determinate can also refer to something that has a clearly visible limit of form. For example, although no two snowflakes are ever exactly alike, they all share a certain "determinate form," that is they all have six arms.

Example Sentences

Determinate tomatoes: McKeever makes the case for determinate tomatoes, which are tomatoes that stay bushy instead of vining out and have a more set production, as these have more compact root systems.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2023

Determinate tomatoes are also referred to as "bush tomatoes" and are small in plant size, typically growing to about 4 to 5 feet tall.

From Salon • Jul. 27, 2022

Determinate tomatoes are shorter plants that ripen all their fruit in a narrow window, perfect for canning and storage.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2021

Offenders considered "dangerous" already receive a Extended Determinate Sentence, of which around 250 were imposed last year.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2019

Determinate truth may not yet have arrived, but still, in its own deep recess, there hides a truth without name, which waits and calls.

From The Buried Temple by Sutro, Alfred