ternary

[ tur-nuh-ree ]

/ ˈtɜr nə ri /

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See synonyms for: ternary / ternaries on Thesaurus.com

adjective

consisting of or involving three; threefold; triple.

third in order or rank.

based on the number three.

Chemistry.

consisting of three different elements or groups.
(formerly) consisting of three atoms.

Mathematics. having three variables.

Metallurgy. (of an alloy) having three principal constituents.

noun, plural ter·na·ries.

a group of three.

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Origin of ternary

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin ternārius made up of three. See tern², -ary

Words nearby ternary

terms of service, terms of trade, termwise, tern, terna, ternary, ternary form, ternary operation, ternate, terne, terne metal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ternary in a sentence

No ternary verses are found in Mirèio, that is, verses that fall into three equal parts.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
It may occur in lines of any length; but in lines of five or six syllables the binary and ternary movements are generally mingled.
Modern Spanish Lyrics|Various
Many ternary lines of five and six syllables are found, but they are almost invariably mingled with binary lines.
Modern Spanish Lyrics|Various
The Spanish ternary 12-syllable line was formerly used chiefly in combination with lines of ten or eleven syllables.
Modern Spanish Lyrics|Various

Rarely one finds 6-syllable and 9-syllable lines with regular ternary movement, and these are probably never of popular origin.
Modern Spanish Lyrics|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ternary

ternary

/ (ˈtɜːnərɪ) /

adjective

consisting of three or groups of three

maths

(of a number system) to the base three
involving or containing three variables

(of an alloy, mixture, or chemical compound) having three different components or composed of three different elements

noun plural -ries

a group of three

Word Origin for ternary

C14: from Latin ternārius, from ternī three each

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ternary

Origin of ternary

Words nearby ternary

Words related to ternary

How to use ternary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ternary

Word Origin for ternary