treble
treble Lexical Profile
treble Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The highest range of pitches in music or audio reproduction, or a high-pitched singing voice, especially that of a young boy.
"He adjusted the stereo settings to reduce the treble and boost the bass."
British A series of three victories or achievements in the same season or competition, or a bet in which the winnings and stake from the first two selections are placed on a third.
"The football club celebrated a historic treble after winning the league title, the domestic cup, and the European championship."
• adjective
Relating to or denoting the highest vocal or instrumental part in music, or having a high-pitched sound.
"Young piano students usually learn to read notes in the treble clef before mastering the bass clef."
Consisting of three parts; threefold or three times as great in amount, number, or size.
"The bakery ordered a treble quantity of flour to prepare for the busy holiday weekend."
• verb
To make or become three times as large or numerous.
"The company managed to treble its annual revenue within just four years of launching its flagship product."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'treble' is commonly used instead of 'triple' for multiplying by three or winning three championships in a single season, whereas American English reserves 'treble' almost exclusively for high-frequency sound and music.
• Rhymes for treble
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French 'treble' ('threefold'), which derives from Latin 'triplus', a compound of 'tri-' ('three') and '-plus' ('-fold'). Its musical sense arose in Medieval Latin polyphony, where the 'triplum' was the third and highest vocal part added above the tenor and contratenor.