adj.
Pronunciation: di- ' t ə r-m ə -n ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin determinatus, past participle of determinare
Date: 14th century
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