Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

ternate

adjective ter·nate \ ˈtər-ˌnāt , -nət \

Definition of ternate

: arranged in threes or in subdivisions so arranged
  • a ternate leaf
—

ternately

adverb

Origin and Etymology of ternate

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

Ternate

geographical name Ter·na·te \ ter-ˈnä-(ˌ)tā \

Definition of Ternate

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

Learn More about ternate

  1. See words that rhyme with ternate

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ternate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

imperturbable

play

very hard to disturb or upset

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

ternate

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games