a. [ OE. þre, þreo, þri, AS. þrī, masc., þreó, fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D. drie, G. drei, OHG. drī, Icel. þrīr, Dan. & Sw. tre, Goth. þreis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L. tres, Gr. trei^s, Skr. tri. √301. Cf. 3d Drilling, Tern, a., Third, Thirteen, Thirty, Tierce, Trey, Tri-, Triad, Trinity, Tripod. ] One more than two; two and one. “I offer thee three things.” 2 Sam. xxiv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into, composed of, or containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like; as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled, three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three-footed, three-forked, three-grained, three-headed, three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked, three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed, three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rule of three. (Arith.) See under Rule, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Arch.) Having or consisting of three coats; -- applied to plastering which consists of pricking-up, floating, and a finishing coat; or, as called in the United States, a scratch coat, browning, and finishing coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Designating, or pert. to, a photomechanical process employing printings in three colors, as red, yellow, and blue. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having three corners, or angles; as, a three-cornered hat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having three prominent longitudinal angles; as, a three-cornered stem. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A vessel of war carrying guns on three decks. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Bearing three flowers together, or only three flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. þreofald; cf. AS. þrīfeald. ] Consisting of three, or thrice repeated; triple; as, threefold justice. [ 1913 Webster ]

A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Eccl. iv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Said of games or contests where three persons play against each other, or two against one; as, a three-handed game of cards. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Bot.) (a) Producing three leaves; as, three-leaved nightshade. (b) Consisting of three distinct leaflets; having the leaflets arranged in threes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium. [ 1913 Webster ]