ternate

¹ American  

[tur-nit, -neyt] / ˈtɜr nɪt, -neɪt /

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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Ternate ² American  

[ter-nah-te, ter-nah-tee] / tɛrˈnɑ tɛ, tərˈnɑ ti /

noun

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

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ternate British  

/ ˈtɜːnɪt, -neɪt /

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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Other Word Forms

• ternately adverb

Etymology

Origin of ternate

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

Example Sentences

Leaves ternate, the lateral leaflets of the lower leaves parted nearly to the base; stamens 5, opposite to the sepals.—Iowa,

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves.—Alternate; once- or twice- ternately compound; the leaflets ternately lobed.

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