ternate

adjective

ter·​nate ˈtər-ˌnāt 

-nət

: arranged in threes or in subdivisions so arranged

a ternate leaf

ternately adverb

Word History

Etymology

New Latin ternatus, from Medieval Latin, past participle of ternare to treble, from Latin terni

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Geographical Definition

Ternate

geographical name

Ter·​na·​te ter-ˈnä-(ˌ)tā 

1

island of Indonesia in the northern Moluccas off western Halmahera population 33,964

2

city, port, and chief city on Ternate Island population 24,287