trichotomy
UK /tɹaɪˈkɒt.ə.mi/ · US /tɹaɪˈkɑt.ə.mi/ noun
Forms trichotomies
- noun Division or separation into three groups or pieces.
- noun (algebra) the property of an order relation whereby, given an ordered pair of elements (of a given algebraic structure), exactly one of these is true: the first element is 'less than' the second one, the second is 'less than' the first, or the two elements are equal.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek τριχοτομία (trikhotomía), from τρίχα (tríkha) + τόμος (tómos) + -ία (-ía).
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [Gr. tri`cha threefold, in three parts + te`mnein to cut or divide: cf. F. trichotomie.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “trichotomy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details