Definition

Arranged in groups of three or having three parts.

Example

The plant has a ternate leaf structure, with three leaflets on each stem.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a plant with ternate leaves?

Yeah, I think they look really interesting and unique.

I love how they’re arranged in sets of three.

It gives them a nice symmetry that’s quite appealing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ternate is derived from the Latin 'ternatus' (meaning tripled or in threes), which comes from 'terni' (meaning three each). The word 'ternate' refers to something that is arranged in groups of three or has three parts.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin word for three ('terni') to remember that 'ternate' means something arranged in threes.

Visually Confused Words