three Meaning & Definition
What Does Three Mean?
Three is used as a noun meaning NATO & ICAO radiotelephony clear code (spelling-alphabet name) for the digit 3. As a numeral, it means A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four. As a numeral, it means A numerical value after two and before four. Represented in Arabic digits as 3; this many dots (•••).
Three in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, numeral |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /θɹɪj/ |
| Synonyms | cardinal, troika and trine |
| Plural | threes |
Three Definition (Noun)
- NATO & ICAO radiotelephony clear code (spelling-alphabet name) for the digit 3.
Three as a Numeral
- A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four.
- Describing a set or group with three elements.
Noun
- The digit/figure 3.
- Anything measuring three units, as length.
Put all the threes in a separate container.
- A person who is three years old.
All the threes will go in Mrs. Smith's class, while I'll take the fours and fives.
- The playing card featuring three pips.
- Three o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.
- Abbreviation of three-pointer.
Numeral
- A numerical value after two and before four. Represented in Arabic digits as 3; this many dots (•••).
Noun
- A goal or other means of scoring worth three points.
- A three-point shot; a basket made from beyond the three-point line.
- A three-point landing; an airplane landing in which all three wheels touch the ground simultaneously.
- A deer or other animal whose antlers feature three points or tines.
Synonyms of Three
Three in a Sentence
Put all the threes in a separate container.
All the threes will go in Mrs. Smith's class, while I'll take the fours and fives.
Word Forms & Grammar
three
three (plural threes)
Words That Rhyme With Three
Origin of Three
Origin 1: From Middle English thre, threo, thrie, thri, from Old English þrī, from Proto-West Germanic *þrīʀ, from Proto-Germanic *þrīz, from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes. Doublet of tres and trey.
Origin 2: Cognate with German drei, Albanian tre, Armenian երեք (erekʻ), Latin trēs, Latvian trīs, Lithuanian trỹs, Greek τρεῖς (treís), Old Church Slavonic трьѥ (trĭje), and others.
Questions People Ask About Three
Is three a noun or a numeral?
Three is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a numeral.
What is another word for three?
Words with a similar meaning to three include cardinal, troika and trine. See the full list of three synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of three?
The plural of three is threes.
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