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ternate

[tur-nit, -neyt]
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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.
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Origin of ternate

From the New Latin word ternātus, dating back to 1745–55. See tern2, -ate1
Related formster·nate·ly, adverb

Ternate

[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).
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ternate

Historical Examples

  • You can all lend a hand till I land you at Amboyna or Ternate.

    Rodman The Boatsteerer And Other Stories

    Louis Becke

  • We belong to the island of Ternate—our king is at war with the Portuguese, who are villains.

    The Phantom Ship

    Frederick Marryat

  • To avoid repetitions, I will in this chapter combine what notes I have about Ternate.

    The Malay Archipelago

    Alfred Russell Wallace

  • Jussiea, with ternate leaves, abrupt and three-toothed at their extremities.

    Lachesis Lapponica

    Carl von Linn

  • Trifoliolate (or ternate), of three leaflets, as the Clover; and so on.

British Dictionary definitions for ternate

ternate

adjective
  1. (esp of a leaf) consisting of three leaflets or other parts
  2. (esp of plants) having groups of three members
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Derived Formsternately, adverb

Word Origin

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