- (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.
- (n.) A ternion; the number three; three things taken together; a triad.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). ternary. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/ternary/definitions/2071357 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "ternary" http://smartdefine.org/ternary/definitions/2071357 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, ternary, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/ternary/definitions/2071357>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "ternary" 28 May 2011. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/ternary/definitions/2071357> |