Main Entry: de·ter·mi·nate

Pronunciation: \di-ˈtər-mə-nət\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin determinatus, past participle of determinare

Date: 14th century

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 : characterized by sequential flowering from the central or uppermost bud to the lateral or basal 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 4
5 : relating to, being, or undergoing egg cleavage in which each division irreversibly separates portions of the zygote with specific potencies for further development

— de·ter·mi·nate·ly adverb

— de·ter·mi·nate·ness noun