ternary

adj. three, of three

Ternary can mean:Balanced ternary, a positional numeral system, useful for comparison logicTernary compound, a type of chemical compoundTernary complex, a complex formed by the interaction of three moleculesTernary computer, a computer using a ternary numeral systemTernary form, a form used for structuring musicTernary logic, a logic system with values true, false, and some other valueTernary numeral system, a base-3 counting systemTernary operation, an operation that takes three parametersTernary plot or ternary graph, a plot that shows the ratios of three proportionsTernary search, is a computer science technique for finding the minimum or maximum of a functionTernary signal can assume three significant values
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Noun
1. the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
(synonym) three, 3, III, trio, threesome, tierce, leash, troika, triad, trine, trinity, ternion, triplet, tercet, terzetto, trey, deuce-ace
(hypernym) digit, figure
Adjective
1. having three units or components or elements; "a ternary operation"; "a treble row of red beads"; "overcrowding made triple sessions necessary"; "triple time has three beats per measure"; "triplex windows"
(synonym) treble, triple, triplex
(similar) multiple

(n.)
A ternion; the number three; three things taken together; a triad.
  

(a.)
Proceeding by threes; consisting of three; as, the ternary number was anciently esteemed a symbol of perfection, and held in great veneration.
  

(a.)
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; thus, sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound.
  

<programming> A description of an operator taking three arguments. The only common example is C's ?: operator which is used in the form "CONDITION ? EXP1 : EXP2" and returns EXP1 if CONDITION is true else EXP2. Haskell has a similar "if CONDITION then EXP1 else EXP2" operator.
See also unary, binary.
(1998-07-29)