treble

[ treb-uhl ]

adjective

1. threefold; triple.
2. Music.
   1. of or relating to the highest part in harmonized music; soprano.
   2. of the highest pitch or range, as a voice part, voice, singer, or instrument.
   3. high in pitch; shrill.

noun

1. Music.
   1. the treble or soprano part.
   2. a treble voice, singer, or instrument.
2. a high or shrill voice or sound.
3. the highest-pitched peal of a bell.

verb (used with or without object)

, tre·bled, tre·bling.

1. to make or become three times as much or as many; triple.

treble

/ ˈtrɛbəl /

adjective

1. threefold; triple
2. of, relating to, or denoting a soprano voice or part or a high-pitched instrument

noun

1. three times the amount, size, etc
2. a soprano voice or part or a high-pitched instrument
3. the highest register of a musical instrument
4. 1. the high-frequency response of an audio amplifier, esp in a record player or tape recorder
   2. a control knob on such an instrument by means of which the high-frequency gain can be increased or decreased
5. Leisure:Bell-ringing the lightest and highest bell in a ring
6. 1. the narrow inner ring on a dartboard
   2. a hit on this ring

verb

1. to make or become three times as much

Derived Forms

• ˈtrebly, adverbadjective
• ˈtrebleness, noun

Other Words From

• tre·bly [treb, -lee], adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of treble¹

1275–1325; (adj. and noun) Middle English < Middle French < Latin triplus triple; (v.) Middle English treblen, derivative of the adj.

Word History and Origins

Origin of treble¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin triplus threefold, triple

Example Sentences

In the deciding leg Littler held his nerve and nailed treble 18, double 16, to seal victory and a place in the last eight.

From BBC

They have also agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, and to treble renewable power by 2030.

From BBC

The Wolverhampton crowd were on their feet when 17-year-old Littler nailed seven consecutive treble 20s and a treble 19, but he missed double 12.

From BBC

According to figures compiled by the Spotrac website, the last time the league’s highest-salaried team was also its best-performing one was in 2017, when Toronto won the only treble in MLS history with a payroll of $22.5 million.

From Los Angeles Times

In doing so, the Scotland international became only the second man to score an FA Cup treble - after Blackburn Rovers' William Townley in 1890 and matched only once more by Blackpool striker Stan Mortensen in 1953 – and took the headlines in the newspapers the following day.

From BBC

Related Words

• high-pitched
• soprano