treble1
/ˈtrɛb(ə)l
/adjective [attributive]
1Consisting of three parts; threefold: the fish were caught with large treble hooks...
- Few students are in a position to have superstars like Kate Moss model their creations for their graduation show and attract a treble A-list audience to the occasion.
- The company said it also is seeking treble damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, bringing its total claim to more than $1.25 bn.
- That one bonus point adds to the two he collects for being deemed the Knights' second-best player on the day by the Evening Press, and his treble haul takes him back to joint-top of the standings alongside Scott Rhodes.
1.1Multiplied or occurring three times: she turned back to make a double and treble check...
- There is also another parallel stream of procedure relating to proceedings brought privately, for example, proceedings to recover multiple damages, treble damages, perhaps.
- ‘The students come in and have a treble vodka with a dash of Corky's and a dash of coke, for £3.50,’ said Arthur.
- Her second round of 55 was achieved despite a treble bogey at the downhill 16th courtesy of twos at the second, fifth, twelfth, thirteenth and seventeenth.
1.2(Of a number) occurring three times in succession: call Kate on 0500 403 treble zero
predeterminer
Three times as much or as many: the tip was at least treble what she would normally have given...
- The share of one-room dwellings is urban areas is treble the share in rural areas.
- It has offered security guards treble time but they have still got insufficient numbers.
- Becoming a parent can be a daunting experience, but she and her husband had treble the shock when they learned they were expecting triplets.
noun
1British Three sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc. the victory completed a treble for the horse’s trainer...
- Swinton coach Phil Veivers was delighted with his side's performance as they completed a memorable treble of victories against Whitehaven.
- In contrast, Arsenal are steaming towards a treble as they bid to become the first team to go through a Premiership season unbeaten.
- With the exception of AC Milan, all those clubs are also chasing their domestic league titles with Leverkusen still in the hunt for a mouth-watering treble including the German Cup.
2 Darts A hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two middle circles of a dartboard, scoring treble.Dart and Target was played on a board of numbered coloured circles, on which doubles and trebles did not feature, the highest score being the bullseye and lowest at the edge....
- During a visit to England in 1977, Ali played an exhibition match at a pub in the North-east, against Welsh champion Alan Evans, who was only allowed to score on trebles, to keep the match competitive.
- Shanghai is the given name for hitting a single, double and treble of the same score and this game is a step up from round the clock.
3British A type of bet in which three selections are made, with any winnings from the first being transferred to the second and then (if successful) to the third.I do not know what the second and third legs of the treble are likely to be, but I do pose the question: why is the Government involved in racing at all?...
- A trebles bet means three must win and a roll-up means they all have to win.
- Off-course layers will always keep hot-pots, his in particular, tight because of doubles and trebles and other multiple bets.
4A threefold quantity or thing, in particular:
4.1(In showjumping) a fence consisting of three elements: the mare failed to tuck her hind feet up quite high enough at the last bar of the treble
4.2A crochet stitch made with three loops of wool on the hook at a time.
4.3A drink of spirits of three times the standard measure.
pronoun
A number or amount which is three times as large as a contrasting or usual number or amount: by paying treble, he had a double room to himself
verb
Make or become three times as large or numerous: [with object]: rents were doubled and probably trebled [no object]: his salary has trebled in a couple of years...
- But without an effective rural medical network, fighting rural epidemics would probably need double or treble the effort.
- And he is probably calculating his salary will double or treble at a stroke.
- Electricity costs will probably treble, according to that representative.
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin triplus (see triple).
Rhymes
treble2
/ˈtrɛb(ə)l/noun
1A high-pitched voice, especially a boy’s singing voice: the boy replied in a shrill treble [as modifier]: the children’s treble voices...
- The eerie sound of the air passing through wing feathers differs with each bird, from a low treble, to a high whistle, to one sirenlike whine.
1.1A boy (or girl) with a high-pitched singing voice: we had sung together as trebles in the choir...
- We've always had a choir made up of boy and girl trebles, together with male altos, tenors and basses.
- This strongly implies that even in the Durham version the verse material, as in the original consort song, was meant to be sung by a treble.
- Five years earlier, in 1735 as a treble, he had sung the role of Oberto in Alcina.
1.2A part written for a high voice or an instrument of a high pitch: we have studied the treatment of melodic lines in treble and bass separately...
- The piece requires the player to shift the focus of the melody line from the treble to the bass.
- The Prelude no.15 itself begins as an idyllic stroll full of anticipation and becomes more emphatic as the bass line takes over the melody and the treble assumes the role of harmony.
- Top 40 hits sounded excellent too, with thumping bass notes and nice trebles.
2 [as modifier] Denoting a relatively high-pitched member of a family of similar instruments: a treble viol...
- The 17th and 18th-century trio sonata was a favourite chamber ensemble, using two treble instruments and one bass, with a keyboard or lute continuo to fill in the harmony.
- There are three main sizes of modern oboe: the normal treble, the alto oboe d' amore, and the tenor cor anglais or English horn.
- The purchase of a full chest of instruments (usually two each of trebles, tenors, and basses) would encourage the training of family members to play them.
2.1 (also treble bell) The smallest and highest-pitched bell of a ring or set.Thus the final instalment in the story was the casting and installing of the two treble bells of ten....
- And most crucially, the treble bells could be replaced with new ones better matched to the bass bells.
- The ring of bells at St Bene't's was completed in 1663 when the treble bell of the six was hung.
3 [mass noun] The high-frequency output of a radio, or audio system, corresponding to the treble in music.Apart from good sound, you will find controls for bass, treble and sound balance that is not common in PDAs....
- To the right, the Presence control adds treble by reducing the amount of high frequencies in the feedback loop.
- Instead, it sounds like some of the upper range treble was simple repeated out of the rear channels - so you get a slight echo off Marley's voice and the cymbals.
Origin
Late Middle English: from treble1, because it was the highest part in a three-part contrapuntal composition.