ternate

¹

[tur-nit, -neyt]

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.

Ternate

²

[ter-nah-te, ter-nah-tee]

noun

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

ternate

/ ˈtɜːnɪt, -neɪt /

adjective

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

2. (esp of plants) having groups of three members

Other Word Forms

• ternately adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ternate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ternate¹

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

Example Sentences

Scales of the fertile ament few, decussately opposite or ternate, becoming a small closed cone or sort of drupe.

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Leaves.—All radical; twice to thrice ternately compound.

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Biternate, twice ternate; i. e. principal divisions three, each bearing three leaflets, 59.

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So far as I can judge from these circumstances, I p. 87suppose that it is a species of Smilax, with ternate leaves. 

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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.

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Related Words

• threefold