triplet

/ˈtrɪplɪt/

/ˈtrɪplɪt/

Other forms: triplets

When a mammal gives birth to three offspring at the same time, each is a triplet. If you're a triplet, you've got at least two siblings right from the moment you're born.

While some triplets are identical (three fetuses from a single egg), it's more likely for triplets to be fraternal (from three separate eggs). In humans, twins are more common than triplets, and multiple births of more than three are even more rare. Triplet can also mean another group of three, like three lines of poetry or three notes of music.

Definitions of triplet

1. noun

   one of three offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
   type of:

   sib, sibling

   a person's brother or sister
2. noun

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

   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
3. noun

   a rhythmic group of three lines of verse
   synonyms: tercet

   type of:

   stanza

   a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
4. 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, trio, troika

   type of:

   digit, figure

   one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration