ternary UK /ˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/US /ˈtɝ.nə.ɹi/adjective 6noun 3forms 1 adjective6 •Made up of three things. •Having three variables. •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.Sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound. •Of an operator taking three operands.An "if…then…else" construction is called a ternary operator when it is combined in one line of a program. •To the base three.Perhaps the prettiest number system of all is the balanced ternary notation — 1999 •Arranged in groups of three. noun3 •A group of three things; a trio, threesome or tierce. •The ternary operator. •(no longer used) The Holy Trinity. formsternaries
