trichotomy

[ trih-kot-uh-mee ]
/ trɪˈkɒt ə mi /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR trichotomy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural tri·chot·o·mies.

division into three parts, classes, categories, etc.
an instance of such a division, as in thought, structure, or object.
the three-part division of human beings into body, spirit, and soul.

Origin of trichotomy

1600–10; < New Latin trichotomia < Greek trích(a) in three parts + New Latin -tomia -tomy

OTHER WORDS FROM trichotomy

trich·o·tom·ic [trik-uh-tom-ik] /ˌtrɪk əˈtɒm ɪk/, tri·chot·o·mous, adjective tri·chot·o·mous·ly, adverb

Words nearby trichotomy

trichosporosis, trichostasis spinulosa, trichothecene, trichothiodystrophy, trichotillomania, trichotomy, trichotomy property, trichroic, trichroism, trichromat, trichromatic

Words related to trichotomous

threefold, treble, triple, trilateral, ternary, third, trinitarian, trine, triangular, pyramidal, ternate, trigonal, trigonous, trinal, trinary, tripartite

British Dictionary definitions for trichotomous

trichotomy
/ (traɪˈkɒtəmɪ) /

noun plural -mies

division into three categories
theol the division of man into body, spirit, and soul

Derived forms of trichotomy

trichotomic (ˌtrɪkəˈtɒmɪk) or trichotomous, adjective trichotomously, adverb

Word Origin for trichotomy

C17: probably from New Latin trichotomia, from Greek trikhotomein to divide into three, from trikha triple + temnein to cut