treble

Noun · Verb · Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the pitch range of the highest female voiceSynonyms: soprano

Verb (2)

  1. sing treble
  2. increase threefold“Triple your income!”Synonyms: triple

Adjective (4)

  1. having or denoting a high range“soprano voice”“soprano sax”“the boy still had a fine treble voice”“the treble clef”Synonyms: soprano
  2. three times as great or many“a claim for treble (or triple) damages”“a threefold increase”Synonyms: threefoldthree-foldtriple
  3. having three units or components or elements“a ternary operation”“a treble row of red beads”“overcrowding made triple sessions necessary”“triple time has three beats per measure”“triplex windows”Synonyms: ternarytripletriplex
  4. having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities“a double (or dual) role for an actor”“the office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence — R.W.Emerson”“every episode has its double and treble meaning — Frederick Harrison”Synonyms: doubledualtwofoldtwo-foldthreefoldthree-fold
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Treble \Tre"ble\, adv. Trebly; triply. [Obs.] --J. Fletcher. [1913 Webster]

Treble \Tre"ble\, n. [" It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [Lat.], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low)." --Grove.] (Mus.) The highest of the four principal parts in music; the part usually sung by boys or women; soprano. [1913 Webster]

Note: This is sometimes called the first treble, to distinguish it from the second treble, or alto, which is sung by lower female voices. [1913 Webster]


Treble \Tre"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trebled; p. pr. & vb. n. Trebling.]

1.To make thrice as much; to make threefold. "Love trebled life." --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

2.To utter in a treble key; to whine. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

He outrageously (When I accused him) trebled his reply.— Chapman.[1913 Webster]

Treble \Tre"ble\, a. [OE. treble threefold, OF. treble, treible, L. triplus. See Triple.]

1.Threefold; triple. [1913 Webster]

A lofty tower, and strong on every side With treble walls.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

2.(Mus.) (a) Acute; sharp; as, a treble sound. --Bacon. (b) Playing or singing the highest part or most acute sounds; playing or singing the treble; as, a treble violin or voice. [1913 Webster]


Treble \Tre"ble\, v. i. To become threefold. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
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