n. [ It., fr. L. tres, tria, three: cf. F. trio, from the Italian. See Three. ] 1. Three, considered collectively; three in company or acting together; a set of three; three united. [ 1913 Webster ]

The trio were well accustomed to act together, and were linked to each other by ties of mutual interest. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) (a) A composition for three parts or three instruments. (b) The secondary, or episodical, movement of a minuet or scherzo, as in a sonata or symphony, or of a march, or of various dance forms; -- not limited to three parts or instruments. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ LL. triobolaris, fr. L. triobolus a piece of three oboli, Gr. &unr_;. See Tri-, and Obolus. ] Of the value of three oboli; hence, mean; worthless. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It may pass current . . . for a triobolar ballad. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri- + octile. ] (Astrol.) An aspect of two planets with regard to the earth when they are three octants, or three eighths of a circle, that is, 135 degrees, distant from each other. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Triœcious. ] (Bot.) The third order of the Linnaean class Polygamia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. tri- + Gr. &unr_; house. ] (Bot.) Having three sorts of flowers on the same or on different plants, some of the flowers being staminate, others pistillate, and others both staminate and pistillate; belonging to the order Triœcia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Triolet. ] (Mus.) Same as Triplet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri- + olein. ] (Physiol. Chem.) See Olein. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. triolet. See Trio. ] A short poem or stanza of eight lines, in which the first line is repeated as the fourth and again as the seventh line, the second being, repeated as the eighth. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri- + sulphonal; -- so called because it contains three ethyls. ] (Chem.) A compound similar to sulphonal, used as a hypnotic in medicine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Trionyx, and -old. ] (Zool.) A division of chelonians which comprises Trionyx and allied genera; -- called also Trionychoides, and Trionychina. [ 1913 Webster ]