different between trinary vs ternary

English

Etymology

See tri-, binary.

Adjective

trinary (not comparable)

1. Alternative form of ternary

Usage notes

• The synonymous form ternary is much more common.

Synonyms

• threefold, treble; see also Thesaurus:triple

Derived terms

• trinary star

Noun

trinary (plural trinaries)

1. (astronomy) a trinary star

Anagrams

• nitrary

English

Etymology

From Late Latin ternarius (“consisting of three things”), from terni (“three each”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t??n??i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /t?n??i/
• Homophone: ternery

Adjective

ternary (not comparable)

1. Made up of three things; treble, triadic, triple, triplex.
2. Arranged in groups of three.
3. (arithmetic) To the base three.
4. (arithmetic) Having three variables.
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.

Synonyms

• (made up of three things): tern, trinary, trine; see also Thesaurus:triple
• (to the base three): trinary

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• unary
• binary
• tetranary

Noun

ternary (plural ternaries)

1. A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce.
2. (obsolete) The Holy Trinity.
   • 1570, John Dee, in H. Billingsley (trans.) Euclid, Elements of Geometry, Preface:

     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 […].

Synonyms

• (a group of three things): See Thesaurus:trio

Anagrams

• Trenary