trio
TREE-oh
Trio (noun) means a group of three people or things. Example: “A trio of ducks waddled across the road while the traffic waited.”
noun
1
A group of three people or things.
"A trio of ducks waddled across the road while the traffic waited."
"The trio at the back of the class kept whispering during the lesson."
"I'm cooking crab cakes with arugula and mayonnaise, griddled lamb with rosemary potatoes and buttered spinach, then a trio of desserts."
— Kate Hardy, Bachelor at Her Bidding (2015)
"The trio of friends traveled across Europe together."
2
A group of three musicians, or a piece written for three performers.
"The piano trio rehearsed a new piece for the village concert."
"She plays the cello in a trio with her two cousins."
"Despite their opus number, the Fantasiestücke were composed in 1842, the same year as the Piano Quartet and Quintet, and five years before the first two of the piano trios (the third followed in 1852)."
— Andrew Clements, Schumann: The Piano Trios; Piano Quintet; Piano Quartet review – exuberance with refinement (2021)
"I love his music, but it is a bit disconcerting to realize that you could die in extreme old age and still only be familiar with a mere handful of the baryton trios."
— Simon Winder, Danubia (2013)
"The jazz trio played until midnight."
How to use trio
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAny set of three — people, musicians, or things — grouped together.
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Word forms
- Plural
- trios
Fill the gap
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A _____ of ducks waddled across the road while the traffic waited.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian trio in the early 18th century.
Class of 1700
trio joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for trio
See all rhymes for trio →Frequently asked questions
What does “trio” mean?
The word “trio” means a group of three people or things. In plain terms, any set of three — people, musicians, or things — grouped together.
How do you pronounce “trio”?
“Trio” is pronounced TREE-oh (/ˈtɹioʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “trio” in a sentence?
Here is “trio” used in a sentence: “The trio of friends traveled across Europe together.”
What is another word for “trio”?
Words with a similar meaning to “trio” include threesome, triad, trine, trinity, troika and triumvirate.
What part of speech is “trio”?
“Trio” is a noun.
Where does the word “trio” come from?
The word “trio” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Italian. Borrowed from Italian trio in the early 18th century.
Is “trio” a common word?
“Trio” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “trio” have?
“Trio” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of three people or things.
What is the difference between a "trio" and a "triad"?
Both refer to a group of three, but "trio" is the everyday word and is especially common for three people or three musicians, while "triad" tends to be more technical or formal, such as a chord of three notes or a set of three related concepts. A trio can play music; a triad is more often an abstract grouping.
What is the difference between a "trio" and a "quartet"?
A trio is a group of three performers, or a piece written for three, while a quartet is a group of four. The prefixes reflect the numbers, with "tri-" meaning three and "quart-" meaning four.
Is "trio" singular or plural?
"Trio" is grammatically singular and takes "a" — "a trio." In American English it usually takes a singular verb ("the trio is playing"), while in British English it may take a plural verb ("the trio are playing") when the members are viewed individually. Its plural is "trios."
What kinds of things can be called a "trio"?
A trio can describe any set of three — three people, three musicians, three matching items, or a musical work for three performers. It is often used for recognised groupings, such as a jazz trio or a trio of friends.
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