ternate

[tur-nit, -neyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ternate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

consisting of three; arranged in threes.

Botany.

consisting of three leaflets, as a compound leaf.
having leaves arranged in whorls of three, as a plant.

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ternate

threefold, treble, triple, trilateral, ternary, third, trinitarian, trine, triangular, pyramidal, trichotomous, trigonal, trigonous, trinal, trinary, tripartite

Examples from the Web for ternate

Historical Examples of ternate

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.
The Elements of Botany
Asa Gray

British Dictionary definitions for ternate

ternate

adjective

(esp of a leaf) consisting of three leaflets or other parts

(esp of plants) having groups of three members

Derived Formsternately, adverb

Word Origin for ternate

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