Triatomic

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Triatomic \Tri`a*tom"ic\, a. [Pref. tri- + atomic.] (Chem.)
     (a) Having three atoms; -- said of certain elements or
         radicals.
     (b) Having a valence of three; trivalent; sometimes, in a
         specific sense, having three hydroxyl groups, whether
         acid or basic; thus, glycerin, glyceric acid, and


         tartronic acid are each triatomic.
         [1913 Webster]