ternate

UK: /ˈtɜːnɪt/

US: 'ternate': (tûr′nit, -nāt); 'Ternate': (ter nä′te; Eng. tər nä′tē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ter•nate  (tûr′nit, -nāt), adj. 

1. consisting of three;
   arranged in threes.
2. [Bot.]
   • Botany consisting of three leaflets, as a compound leaf.
   • Botany having leaves arranged in whorls of three, as a plant.

• Neo-Latin ternātus. See tern², -ate¹
• 1745–55

ter′nate•ly, adv. 

Ter•na•te  (ter nä′te; Eng. tər nä′tē), n. 

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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

Etymology: 18th Century: from New Latin ternātus, from Medieval Latin ternāre to increase threefold

ˈternately adverb