three

[ three ]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 2 plus 1.
2. a symbol for this number, as 3 or III.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with three pips.

adjective

1. amounting to three in number.

three

/ θriː /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of two and one and is a prime number See also number
2. a numeral, 3, III, (iii), representing this number
3. the amount or quantity that is one greater than two
4. something representing, represented by, or consisting of three units such as a playing card with three symbols on it
5. Also calledthree o'clock three hours after noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to three

      three ships

   2. ( as pronoun )

      three were killed

Word History and Origins

Origin of three¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thrēo, thrīo, feminine and neuter of thrī(e); cognate with Dutch drie, German drei, Old Norse thrīr, Gothic threis, Greek treîs, Latin trēs “three,” ter “thrice,” Irish trí, Old Church Slavonic tri, Sanskrit trī, tráyas

Word History and Origins

Origin of three¹

Old English thrēo; related to Old Norse thrīr, Old High German drī, Latin trēs, Greek treis

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. three sheets in the wind. sheet ²( def 3 ).

Example Sentences

Their three-day scientific outing was paid for by Epstein and was big success.

From The Daily Beast

Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.

From The Daily Beast

One of the other cops fired three times and those who were still able to give chase did.

From The Daily Beast

So I was looking back at the years, and that really popped out at me, those three years.

From The Daily Beast

Of the three nominated, Webster did the best, receiving 12 votes, Gohmert and Yoho received three and two votes, respectively.

From The Daily Beast

It is thinner than that of chronic bronchitis, and upon standing separates into three layers of pus, mucus, and frothy serum.

From Project Gutenberg

I waited three months more, in great impatience, then sent him back to the same post, to see if there might be a reply.

From Project Gutenberg

There are three things a wise man will not trust: the wind, the sunshine of an April day, and woman's plighted faith.

From Project Gutenberg

In cross-section the burrows varied from round (three inches in diameter) to oval (three inches high and four inches wide).

From Project Gutenberg

It separates into three layers upon standing—a brown deposit, a clear fluid, and a frothy layer.

From Project Gutenberg