trio

/ˈtrioʊ/

/ˈtriəʊ/

Other forms: trios

Whether it’s birds, opera singers, aces, or golfers, you can use the word trio to refer to anything made up of three.

You can probably tell by tri- that trio involves three of something. It’s often used to describe a musical arrangement featuring three vocal parts or three different instruments, or a musical group made up of three players, such as a jazz trio consisting of a piano player, a bass player, and a drummer. For those not musically inclined, the word can be used more broadly to refer to three of anything, such as a trio of friends.

Definitions of trio

1. noun

   a set of three similar things considered as a unit
   synonyms: triad, triple, triplet

   examples:

   Trimurti

   the triad of divinities of later Hinduism

   types:

   trilogy

   a set of three literary or dramatic works related in subject or theme

   trigon, triplicity

   (astrology) one of four groups of the zodiac where each group consists of three signs separated from each other by 120 degrees

   type of:

   set

   a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
2. noun

   three people considered as a unit
   synonyms: threesome, triad, trinity

   types:

   triumvirate

   a group of three men responsible for public administration or civil authority

   troika

   a modern Russian triumvirate

   type of:

   assemblage, gathering

   a group of persons together in one place
3. noun

   three performers or singers who perform together
   type of:

   musical group, musical organisation, musical organization

   an organization of musicians who perform together
4. noun

   a musical composition for three performers
   type of:

   composition, musical composition, opus, piece, piece of music

   a musical work that has been created
5. noun

   the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
   synonyms: 3, III, deuce-ace, leash, tercet, ternary, ternion, terzetto, three, threesome, tierce, trey, triad, trine, trinity, triplet, troika

   type of:

   digit, figure

   one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration