trio

[ tree-oh ]

noun

, plural tri·os.

1. a musical composition for three voices or instruments.
2. a company of three singers or players.
3. any group of three persons or things.
4. a subordinate division of a minuet, scherzo, march, etc., usually in a contrasted key and style (perhaps originally written for three instruments or in three parts).

trio

/ ˈtriːəʊ /

noun

1. a group of three people or things
2. music
   1. a group of three singers or instrumentalists or a piece of music composed for such a group
   2. a subordinate section in a scherzo, minuet, etc, that is contrastive in style and often in a related key
3. piquet three cards of the same rank

Word History and Origins

Origin of trio¹

1715–25; < Italian, equivalent to tri- tri- + ( du ) o two

Word History and Origins

Origin of trio¹

C18: from Italian, ultimately from Latin trēs three; compare duo

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that solar panels, EVs and batteries are the “new trio” at the heart of the Chinese economy.

From BBC

He partnered with Pes and Poulain and the trio went on a quest to identify other world regions with unusually high numbers of centenarians.

From Science Magazine

“Each member of this trio does layered, subtle, revelatory work,” declares Glenn Whipp.

From Los Angeles Times

The trio, who use the stage names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, released their second album earlier this year alongside a "mostly true" movie depicting their origin story.

From BBC

Andrew Norman’s “A Companion Guide to Rome,” nine movements for string trio, each an impression of a church, got a delirious performance by different groupings of Delirium Musicum in the main hall.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• threesome
• trilogy
• triumvirate