"ternary" meaning in English

See ternary in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/ [General-American] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav
Etymology: From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”). Etymology templates: {{der|en|LL.|ternārius||consisting of three things}} Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”) Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} ternary (not comparable)
  1. Made up of three things. Tags: not-comparable Synonyms: treble, triadic, triple, triplex, tern, trinary, trine, triple Translations (Made up of three things): трои́чен (troíčen) (Bulgarian), ternär (German), τριαδικός (triadikós) [masculine] (Greek), τετραμερής (tetramerís) [masculine] (Greek), ternar (Romanian), троичный (troičnyj) (Russian), тройно́й (trojnój) (Russian), ternario (Spanish), trefaldig (Swedish), ternär (Swedish), trevärd (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-R6hLzpA~ Disambiguation of 'Made up of three things': 85 4 2 3 3 2
  2. Arranged in groups of three. Tags: not-comparable Translations (Arranged in group of three): трёхкомпонентный (trjóxkomponentnyj) (Russian), трёхчленный (trjóxčlennyj) (Russian)
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-TJWKg~BA Disambiguation of 'Arranged in group of three': 15 52 9 8 10 6
  3. (arithmetic) To the base three. Tags: not-comparable Categories (topical): Arithmetic Synonyms: trinary Translations (Mathematics: To the base three): троичен (troičen) (Bulgarian), þríunda- (Icelandic), ternar (Romanian)
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-IoLHtTbm Topics: arithmetic Disambiguation of 'Mathematics: To the base three': 7 6 51 9 7 21
  4. (arithmetic) Having three variables. Tags: not-comparable Categories (topical): Arithmetic Translations (Mathematics: Having three variables): τριαδικός (triadikós) [masculine] (Greek), τετραμερής (tetramerís) [masculine] (Greek), þrístæður (Icelandic), трёхчленный (trjóxčlennyj) (Russian), тернарный (ternarnyj) (Russian)
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-sueXdBIZ Topics: arithmetic Disambiguation of 'Mathematics: Having three variables': 7 4 5 57 13 14
  5. (chemistry) Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule. Tags: not-comparable Categories (topical): Chemistry
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-8Q4vu4Q2 Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
  6. (programming) Of an operator taking three operands. Tags: not-comparable Categories (topical): Programming
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-adj-tGZmbih- Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: unary, binary, tetranary
Derived forms: biternary, ternary alloy, ternary code, ternary complex, ternary compound, ternary computer, ternary diagram, ternary expansion, ternary form, ternary Golay code, ternary Golay conjecture, ternary incremental representation, ternary logarithm, ternary logic, ternary name, ternary notation, ternary numeral system, ternary operation, ternary operator, ternary plot, ternary pulse code modulation, ternary quantic, ternary search, ternary search tree, ternary signal, ternary system, ternary tree

Noun

IPA: /ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/ [General-American] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav Forms: ternaries [plural]
Etymology: From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”). Etymology templates: {{der|en|LL.|ternārius||consisting of three things}} Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} ternary (plural ternaries)
  1. A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce. Synonyms: trio
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-noun-ULkZOiXI
  2. (obsolete) The Holy Trinity. Tags: obsolete Categories (topical): Three
    Sense id: en-ternary-en-noun-P0KtncFh Disambiguation of Three: 12 7 12 9 10 8 9 33 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Icelandic translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Romanian translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 5 1 2 9 15 10 1 57 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 6 2 1 9 16 9 3 54 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 4 1 1 5 16 9 2 63 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 2 1 1 10 15 8 1 63 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 11 3 3 10 13 8 6 47 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 10 2 2 8 11 8 5 55 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 9 3 2 11 16 8 4 47 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 7 3 3 12 15 8 3 48 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 8 2 4 9 19 15 3 39 Disambiguation of Terms with Icelandic translations: 9 2 3 9 12 8 4 53 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 6 2 2 11 16 8 2 53 Disambiguation of Terms with Romanian translations: 10 3 3 10 14 8 5 48 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 6 2 2 11 16 8 2 53 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 6 2 2 10 16 8 2 55 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 9 2 2 9 12 7 4 54

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "biternary"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary alloy"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary code"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary complex"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary compound"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary computer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary diagram"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary expansion"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary form"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary Golay code"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary Golay conjecture"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary incremental representation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary logarithm"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary logic"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary name"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary notation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary numeral system"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary operation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary operator"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary plot"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary pulse code modulation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary quantic"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary search"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary search tree"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary signal"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary system"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "ternary tree"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "LL.",
        "3": "ternārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "consisting of three things"
      },
      "expansion": "Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "ternary (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "unary"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "binary"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "tetranary"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Made up of three things."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-R6hLzpA~",
      "links": [
        [
          "three",
          "three"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "treble"
        },
        {
          "word": "triadic"
        },
        {
          "word": "triple"
        },
        {
          "word": "triplex"
        },
        {
          "word": "tern"
        },
        {
          "word": "trinary"
        },
        {
          "word": "trine"
        },
        {
          "word": "triple"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "troíčen",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "трои́чен"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "ternär"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "triadikós",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "τριαδικός"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "tetramerís",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "τετραμερής"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "ternar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "troičnyj",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "троичный"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "trojnój",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "тройно́й"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "ternario"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "trefaldig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "ternär"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 4 2 3 3 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "Made up of three things",
          "word": "trevärd"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Arranged in groups of three."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-TJWKg~BA",
      "links": [
        [
          "group",
          "group"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "15 52 9 8 10 6",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "trjóxkomponentnyj",
          "sense": "Arranged in group of three",
          "word": "трёхкомпонентный"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "15 52 9 8 10 6",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "trjóxčlennyj",
          "sense": "Arranged in group of three",
          "word": "трёхчленный"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Arithmetic",
          "orig": "en:Arithmetic",
          "parents": [
            "Applied sciences",
            "Mathematics",
            "Sciences",
            "Formal sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Donald Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming, 3rd edition, volume 2, →ISBN, page 207:",
          "text": "Perhaps the prettiest number system of all is the balanced ternary notation",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To the base three."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-IoLHtTbm",
      "links": [
        [
          "arithmetic",
          "arithmetic"
        ],
        [
          "base",
          "base"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(arithmetic) To the base three."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trinary"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "arithmetic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "7 6 51 9 7 21",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "troičen",
          "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
          "word": "троичен"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 6 51 9 7 21",
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
          "word": "þríunda-"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 6 51 9 7 21",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
          "word": "ternar"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Arithmetic",
          "orig": "en:Arithmetic",
          "parents": [
            "Applied sciences",
            "Mathematics",
            "Sciences",
            "Formal sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Having three variables."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-sueXdBIZ",
      "links": [
        [
          "arithmetic",
          "arithmetic"
        ],
        [
          "variable",
          "variable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(arithmetic) Having three variables."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "arithmetic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "7 4 5 57 13 14",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "triadikós",
          "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "τριαδικός"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 4 5 57 13 14",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "tetramerís",
          "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "τετραμερής"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 4 5 57 13 14",
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
          "word": "þrístæður"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 4 5 57 13 14",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "trjóxčlennyj",
          "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
          "word": "трёхчленный"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "7 4 5 57 13 14",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "ternarnyj",
          "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
          "word": "тернарный"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Chemistry",
          "orig": "en:Chemistry",
          "parents": [
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-8Q4vu4Q2",
      "links": [
        [
          "chemistry",
          "chemistry"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(chemistry) Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "chemistry",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Programming",
          "orig": "en:Programming",
          "parents": [
            "Computing",
            "Software engineering",
            "Technology",
            "Computer science",
            "Engineering",
            "Software",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Applied sciences",
            "Media",
            "Fundamental",
            "Communication"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "An \"if…then…else\" construction is called a ternary operator when it is combined in one line of a program.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of an operator taking three operands."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-adj-tGZmbih-",
      "links": [
        [
          "programming",
          "programming#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(programming) Of an operator taking three operands."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "programming",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "ternery"
    }
  ],
  "word": "ternary"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "LL.",
        "3": "ternārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "consisting of three things"
      },
      "expansion": "Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "ternaries",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "ternary (plural ternaries)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-noun-ULkZOiXI",
      "links": [
        [
          "trio",
          "trio"
        ],
        [
          "threesome",
          "threesome"
        ],
        [
          "tierce",
          "tierce"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trio"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "5 1 2 9 15 10 1 57",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 2 1 9 16 9 3 54",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 1 1 5 16 9 2 63",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 1 1 10 15 8 1 63",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 3 3 10 13 8 6 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 2 2 8 11 8 5 55",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 3 2 11 16 8 4 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 3 3 12 15 8 3 48",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "8 2 4 9 19 15 3 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 2 3 9 12 8 4 53",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Icelandic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 2 2 11 16 8 2 53",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 3 3 10 14 8 5 48",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Romanian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 2 2 11 16 8 2 53",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 2 2 10 16 8 2 55",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 2 2 9 12 7 4 54",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 12 9 10 8 9 33",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Three",
          "orig": "en:Three",
          "parents": [
            "Numbers",
            "All topics",
            "Terms by semantic function",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1570, John Dee, in H. Billingsley (trans.) Euclid, Elements of Geometry, Preface",
          "text": "And albeit these thynges be waighty and truthes of great importance, yet (by the infinite goodnes of the Almighty Ternarie,) Artificiall Methods and easy wayes are made, by which the zelous Philosopher, may wyn nere this Riuerish Ida, this Mountayne of Contemplation […] ."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Holy Trinity."
      ],
      "id": "en-ternary-en-noun-P0KtncFh",
      "links": [
        [
          "Holy Trinity",
          "Holy Trinity"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) The Holy Trinity."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "ternery"
    }
  ],
  "word": "ternary"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Late Latin",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Requests for review of Czech translations",
    "Requests for review of French translations",
    "Requests for review of Icelandic translations",
    "Requests for review of Italian translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Icelandic translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations",
    "en:Three"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "biternary"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary alloy"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary code"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary complex"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary compound"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary computer"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary diagram"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary expansion"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary form"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary Golay code"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary Golay conjecture"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary incremental representation"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary logarithm"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary logic"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary name"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary notation"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary numeral system"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary operation"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary operator"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary plot"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary pulse code modulation"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary quantic"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary search"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary search tree"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary signal"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary system"
    },
    {
      "word": "ternary tree"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "LL.",
        "3": "ternārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "consisting of three things"
      },
      "expansion": "Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "ternary (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "unary"
    },
    {
      "word": "binary"
    },
    {
      "word": "tetranary"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Made up of three things."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "three",
          "three"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "treble"
        },
        {
          "word": "triadic"
        },
        {
          "word": "triple"
        },
        {
          "word": "triplex"
        },
        {
          "word": "tern"
        },
        {
          "word": "trinary"
        },
        {
          "word": "trine"
        },
        {
          "word": "triple"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Arranged in groups of three."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "group",
          "group"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Arithmetic"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Donald Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming, 3rd edition, volume 2, →ISBN, page 207:",
          "text": "Perhaps the prettiest number system of all is the balanced ternary notation",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To the base three."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "arithmetic",
          "arithmetic"
        ],
        [
          "base",
          "base"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(arithmetic) To the base three."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trinary"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "arithmetic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Arithmetic"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Having three variables."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "arithmetic",
          "arithmetic"
        ],
        [
          "variable",
          "variable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(arithmetic) Having three variables."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "arithmetic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Chemistry"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "chemistry",
          "chemistry"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(chemistry) Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "chemistry",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Programming"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "An \"if…then…else\" construction is called a ternary operator when it is combined in one line of a program.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of an operator taking three operands."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "programming",
          "programming#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(programming) Of an operator taking three operands."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "programming",
        "sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "ternery"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "troíčen",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "трои́чен"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "ternär"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "triadikós",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "τριαδικός"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "tetramerís",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "τετραμερής"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "ternar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "troičnyj",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "троичный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "trojnój",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "тройно́й"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "ternario"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "trefaldig"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "ternär"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "Made up of three things",
      "word": "trevärd"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "trjóxkomponentnyj",
      "sense": "Arranged in group of three",
      "word": "трёхкомпонентный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "trjóxčlennyj",
      "sense": "Arranged in group of three",
      "word": "трёхчленный"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "troičen",
      "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
      "word": "троичен"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
      "word": "þríunda-"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "Mathematics: To the base three",
      "word": "ternar"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "triadikós",
      "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "τριαδικός"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "tetramerís",
      "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "τετραμερής"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
      "word": "þrístæður"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "trjóxčlennyj",
      "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
      "word": "трёхчленный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "ternarnyj",
      "sense": "Mathematics: Having three variables",
      "word": "тернарный"
    }
  ],
  "word": "ternary"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Late Latin",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Requests for review of Czech translations",
    "Requests for review of French translations",
    "Requests for review of Icelandic translations",
    "Requests for review of Italian translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Icelandic translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Romanian translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations",
    "en:Three"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "LL.",
        "3": "ternārius",
        "4": "",
        "5": "consisting of three things"
      },
      "expansion": "Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Late Latin ternārius (“consisting of three things”), from ternī (“three each”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "ternaries",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "ternary (plural ternaries)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "trio",
          "trio"
        ],
        [
          "threesome",
          "threesome"
        ],
        [
          "tierce",
          "tierce"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "trio"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1570, John Dee, in H. Billingsley (trans.) Euclid, Elements of Geometry, Preface",
          "text": "And albeit these thynges be waighty and truthes of great importance, yet (by the infinite goodnes of the Almighty Ternarie,) Artificiall Methods and easy wayes are made, by which the zelous Philosopher, may wyn nere this Riuerish Ida, this Mountayne of Contemplation […] ."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The Holy Trinity."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Holy Trinity",
          "Holy Trinity"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) The Holy Trinity."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ternary.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/96/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ternary.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "ternery"
    }
  ],
  "word": "ternary"
}

Download raw JSONL data for ternary meaning in English (10.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-02-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-02-02 using wiktextract (ca09fec and c40eb85). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.