trichotomy
English
Etymology
tri- + -chotomy; formed analogously from dichotomy as if it were from di- + -chotomy.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /tɹaɪˈkɒt.ə.mi/
- (US) IPA(key): /tɹaɪˈkɑt.ə.mi/
- Rhymes: -ɒtəmi
Noun
trichotomy (plural trichotomies)
- Division or separation into three groups or pieces.
- (algebra) the following property of an order relation (e.g., "less than"): for any two elements (of a given algebraic structure) there are exactly three possibilities: either the first element is less than the second one, the second element is less than the first one, or the two elements are equal.
Related terms
- dichotomy
- trichotomous
Translations
division or separation into three
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