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ternary

 - 5 dictionary results

ter⋅na⋅ry

  [tur-nuh-ree] adjective, noun, plural -ries.
Use ternary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. consisting of or involving three; threefold; triple.
2. third in order or rank.
3. based on the number three.
4. Chemistry.
a. consisting of three different elements or groups.
b. (formerly) consisting of three atoms.
5. Mathematics. having three variables.
6. Metallurgy. (of an alloy) having three principal constituents.
–noun
7. a group of three.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ternārius made up of three. See tern 2 , -ary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ternary
ter·na·ry   (tûr'nə-rē)   
adj.  

  1. Composed of three or arranged in threes.

  2. Mathematics

    1. Having the base three.

    2. Involving three variables.

n.   pl. ter·na·ries
A group of three.

[Middle English, from Latin ternārius, from ternī, three each; see tern2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ter·na·ry
Pronunciation: 't&r-n&-rE
Function: adjective
1 : having three elements, parts, or divisions
2a : being or consisting of an alloy of three elements b : of, relating to, or containing three different elements, atoms, radicals, or groups ternary acid>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

ternary ter·na·ry (tûr'nə-rē)
adj.
Composed of three or arranged in threes, as a chemical compound containing three elements. n.
A group of three.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

ternary programming
A description of an operator taking three arguments. The only common example is C's ?: operator which is used in the form "CONDITION ? EXP1 : EXP2" and returns EXP1 if CONDITION is true else EXP2. Haskell has a similar "if CONDITION then EXP1 else EXP2" operator.
See also unary, binary.
(1998-07-29)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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