First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
determinate
adjective de·ter·mi·nate \di-ˈtər-mə-nət\
: definitely known or decided
Full Definition of DETERMINATE
1
: having defined limits <a determinate period of time>
2
: definitely settled <a determinate order of precedence>
3
: conclusively determined : definitive <a determinate answer>
4
: characterized by sequential flowering from the central or uppermost bud to the lateral or basal buds; also : characterized by growth in which the main stem ends in an inflorescence and stops growing with only branches from the main stem having further and similarly restricted growth <determinate tomato plants> — compare indeterminate 4
5
: relating to, being, or undergoing egg cleavage in which each division irreversibly separates portions of the zygote with specific potencies for further development
— de·ter·mi·nate·ly adverb
— de·ter·mi·nate·ness noun
See determinate defined for English-language learners
See determinate defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DETERMINATE
Middle English, from Latin determinatus, past participle of determinare
Related to DETERMINATE
- Synonyms
- certain, fixed, final, firm, flat, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, inexpugnable, set, settled, stable
- Antonyms
- boundless, dimensionless, endless, illimitable, immeasurable, indefinite, infinite, limitless, measureless, unbounded, undefined, unlimited, unmeasured
Medical Dictionary
determinate
adjective de·ter·mi·nate \di-ˈtərm-(ə-)nət\
Medical Definition of DETERMINATE
: relating to, being, or undergoing determinate cleavage <a determinate egg>
Learn More About DETERMINATE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: determinate evolutionPrevious Word in the Dictionary: determinantAll Words Near: determinate
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up determinate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).