ternary Hear it!

ternary definition

ter·nary (tʉr′nə rē)

adjective

  1. made up of three parts or things; threefold; triple
  2. third in order or rank
  3. Chem. of or containing three different atoms, elements, radicals, etc.
  4. Math.
    1. having three as a base
    2. involving three variables
  5. Metallurgy of an alloy of three elements

Etymology: ME < L ternarius < terni, three each < tres, three

noun pl. ternaries -·ries

Rare a group or set of three

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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