determinate

adjective

de·​ter·​mi·​nate di-ˈtər-mə-nət 

1

: having defined limits

a determinate period of time

2

: definitely settled

a determinate order of precedence

3

: conclusively determined : definitive

a determinate answer

4

botany : characterized by sequential flowering from the central or uppermost bud to the lateral or basal (see basal sense 1b) buds

also : characterized by growth in which the main stem ends in an inflorescence and stops growing with only branches from the main stem having further and similarly restricted growth

determinate tomato plants

compare indeterminate sense 4

5

biology : relating to, being, or undergoing egg cleavage (see cleavage sense 3) in which each division irreversibly separates portions of the zygote with specific potencies for further development

determinately adverb

determinateness noun

Synonyms

• certain
• final
• firm
• fixed
• flat
• frozen
• hard
• hard-and-fast
• inexpugnable
• set
• settled
• stable

Examples of determinate in a Sentence

a determinate period of time

a determinate order of succession to the throne

Recent Examples on the Web

Perez was serving a determinate term for assault with a firearm and gang activity, authorities said. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024

Tomato plants are either determinate or indeterminate. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2024

The pruning time for determinate tomatoes is simply shorter than indeterminate varieties that produce new leaves and fruit for several months. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2023

For Preciado, the novel and its central character exemplify a crucial idea—that Orlando isn’t a man who becomes a woman, but, rather, a person whose very identity is transition itself, who is a living challenge to the notion of determinate gender. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023

All fruit on a determinate tomato plant ripens within about 4 to 6 weeks. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2023

Use a determinate or semi-determinate variety such as Tycoon, Red Snapper, Celebrity, HM 8849, BHN 968, Ruby Crush, Phoenix or Valley Cat. —Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, 9 July 2020

Consider stacking two ladders for smaller determinate tomatoes, or stack three for large, indeterminate tomato varieties, which like to scramble up to great heights. —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2023

Some types of tomatoes—determinate varieties—have more bushy growth, while indeterminate varieties can grow much taller and need either tall cages or a trellis system. —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin determinatus, past participle of determinare — see determine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

determinate

adjective

de·​ter·​mi·​nate di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət 

1

: having fixed limits : definite

a determinate period of time

2

: definitely settled

arranged in a determinate order

determinately adverb

determinateness noun

Medical Definition

determinate

adjective

de·​ter·​mi·​nate di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət 

: relating to, being, or undergoing determinate cleavage

a determinate egg