ternary adjective & noun. ['tǝ:nǝri] LME.
[Latin ternarius, from terni three at a time, three by three, from ter thrice: see -ARY¹.]
A. adjective.
1. Pertaining to or consisting of three things or parts; characterized by the number three; of or belonging to the third order or rank, tertiary; third in a series. LME.
■ W. H. Hadow The most primitive Ternary form consists of a melody in three clauses.

2. Chemistry & Mineralogy. Pertaining to or consisting of three elements or constituents. E19.

3. Botany. Esp. of parts of a flower: arranged in threes around a common axis. M19.
B. noun. A set or group of three; a trio; a multiple of three. Also (Ternary), the Holy Trinity. LME-L18.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲