Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Ternary

Ter′na-ry

,
Adj.
[L.
ternarius
, fr.
terni
. See
Tern
,
Adj.
]
1.
Proceeding by threes; consisting of three;
as, the
ternary
number was anciently esteemed a symbol of perfection, and held in great veneration
.
2.
(Chem.)
Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule;
thus, sodic hydroxide,
NaOH
, is a
ternary
compound
.

Ter′na-ry

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Ternaries
.
A ternion; the number three; three things taken together; a triad.
Some in
ternaries
, some in pairs, and some single.
Holder.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ternary

TERN'ARY

,
Adj.
[L. ternarius, of three.] Proceeding by threes; consisting of three.
The ternary number, in antiquity, was esteemed a symbol of perfection and held in great veneration.

TERN'ARY

Definition 2024

ternary

ternary

English

Adjective

ternary ‎(not comparable)

  1. Made up of three things; treble, triadic, triple, triplex
  2. Arranged in groups of three
  3. (mathematics) To the base three
    • Donald Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming
      Perhaps the prettiest number system of all […] is the balanced ternary notation.
  4. (mathematics) Having three variables
  5. (chemistry) Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule.
    Sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Noun

ternary ‎(plural ternaries)

  1. A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce

Etymology

Late Latin ternarius ‎(“consisting of three things”), from terni ‎(“three each”).

Similar Results