The English language is vast and complex, filled with words that are unfamiliar to many. One such word is “biternate.” This article will provide a definition and meaning of biternate, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
Biternate is an adjective that describes a compound leaf that is divided into three parts, with each part having three leaflets. It is also used to describe a feather that has three branches, or a petal that has three lobes.
Origin
The word biternate comes from the Latin word “bis,” which means “twice,” and “ternus,” which means “threefold.” It was first used in the English language in the mid-18th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, biternate means “divided into three parts, with each part having three leaflets.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “having three branches or lobes.”
Associations
Biternate is often used in the field of botany to describe the leaves of certain plants, such as the Trillium grandiflorum or the Ranunculus acris. It is also used in ornithology to describe the feathers of certain birds, such as the African hoopoe.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of biternate include trifoliate, ternate, and tripartite.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of biternate, but words that are opposite in meaning include simple, undivided, and unbranched.
The same root words
The same root words as biternate include bisection, bisect, and bisector.
Example Sentences
- The Trillium grandiflorum has biternate leaves that are divided into three parts.
- The African hoopoe has a distinctive crest of biternate feathers on its head.
- The petal of the flower was biternate, with three lobes on each side.