[de.ter.mi.nate] adj [ME, fr. L determinatus, pp. of determinare] (14c) 1: having defined limits
2: definitely settled
3: conclusively determined: definitive
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 "~ 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 adv -- de.ter.mi.nate.ness n