three-farˈthings singular noun

A silver coin issued under Queen Elizabeth I, distinguished from a penny by a rose behind the queen's head

threeˈfold adjective and adverb

1. In three parts
2. (by) three times as much

threeˈfoldness noun

threeˈ-foot adjective

Measuring or having three feet

three-fourˈ adjective (music)

With three crotchets to the bar

three-fourˈ or three-four time noun

The time signature (3/4) indicating three crochets to the bar

three-halfpence /thrē-hāˈpəns/ noun

1. An old penny and a halfpenny
2. A coin of that value

three-halfpenny /thrē-hāpˈni/ adjective

three-halfˈpennyworth or threeha'porth /thrē-hāpˈərth/ noun

An amount of something costing one old penny and a halfpenny

threeˈ-handed adjective

1. Having three hands
2. Played by three players

three-jaw chuck noun (engineering)

A scroll chuck (qv) with three jaws for holding cylindrical workpieces, materials or tools

threeˈ-leaved (or threeˈ-leafed) adjective

1. Having three leaves or leaflets
2. Having leaves in threes

threeˈ-legged /-legd, -legˈid/ adjective

1. Having three legs
2. (of a race) run by pairs of runners, each with a leg tied to his or her partner's adjacent one

three-line whip see under whip

threeˈ-man adjective (Shakespeare)

Worked or performed by three men

three-mastˈed adjective

three-mastˈer noun

A ship with three masts

three-mile limit noun

(in international law) the outer limit of the territorial waters around a state, extending to three nautical miles

threeˈ-monthly noun and adjective

Quarterly

threeˈ-nooked adjective (Shakespeare)

Three-cornered

threeˈ-pair or threeˈ-pair-of-stairs adjective

On a third floor

noun

A room so situated

threeˈ-part adjective

Composed in three parts or for three voices

three-partˈed adjective

1. Consisting of three parts
2. Parted in three
3. Divided into three nearly to the base

threeˈ-parts adverb

To the extent of three-quarters

threepence /threpˈ, thripˈ, thrupˈəns/ noun

Money, or a coin, of the value of three old pence

threepenny /threpˈ, thripˈ, thrupˈni or -ə-ni/ adjective

1. Sold or offered at threepence
2. Of little worth
3. Mean, vulgar

noun

A coin of the value of threepence (also threepenny bit or piece)

threepennyworth or threepenn'orth /thrē-penˈi-wərth, thrē-penˈərth/, also (chiefly Scot) threepˈenceworth noun

An amount of something costing threepence

three-per-centsˈ plural noun

Bonds or other securities paying three per cent interest, esp a portion of the consolidated debt of Great Britain

threeˈ-phase adjective (elec eng)

(of an electric supply system) in which the alternating potentials on the three wires differ in phase from each other by 120º

threeˈ-piece adjective

Comprising three parts, three matching pieces, etc

noun

Anything with three matching pieces, esp a suite of furniture

threeˈ-pile adjective

Having loops of three threads

noun (Shakespeare)

The finest kind of velvet

threeˈ-piled adjective

1. Three-pile
2. Piled three-high

threeˈ-ply adjective

Having three layers or strands

noun

Any material with three layers or strands

three-point landing noun (aeronautics)

A landing with all three wheels touching the ground at the same moment, a perfect landing

three-point turn noun

The process of turning a vehicle round to face in the opposite direction by moving it forward, reversing, then moving forward again, turning the steering-wheel appropriately

threeˈ-pound adjective

Costing or weighing three pounds

three-poundˈer noun

1. A thing that weighs three pounds
2. A gun that shoots a three-pound ball

threeˈ-pricker noun (RAF sl)

1. A three-point landing
2. Anything right or perfect

three-quarˈter adjective and adverb

1. To the amount of three-fourths
2. ( adjective) being three quarters of the normal size or length (used of beds, coats, etc)

noun

A three-quarter back

three-quarter back noun (rugby)

A player between halfbacks and full back

three-quarter face noun

An aspect between full face and profile

three-quarˈter-length adjective

(of a coat, sleeve, etc) being three quarters of the full length

three quarters noun

1. (a part equal to) three fourths of a whole
2. The greater part of something

three-ring circus noun

1. A circus with three rings in which simultaneous separate performances are given
2. A showy or extravagant event (figurative)
3. A confusing or bewildering scene or situation

threeˈscore noun and adjective

Sixty

three-sidˈed adjective

Having three sides

three-speed gear noun

A gear-changing device with three gear positions

threeˈ-square adjective

Having an equilateral triangle as a cross-section

three-starˈ adjective

1. (esp of a hotel) of a quality or rank denoted by three in a four- or five-star grading system
2. Of or being a lieutenant-general (US)

threeˈ-suitˈed adjective (Shakespeare)

Allowed three suits of clothes a year as a serving-man

threeˈ-volume adjective

In three volumes

threeˈ-way adjective

1. Giving connection in three directions from a centre
2. Involving three people or things

three-went way noun (dialect)

A place where three roads meet

three-wheelˈer noun

A vehicle having three wheels, esp a motor vehicle with two rear wheels and a single front wheel

the three R's see under R

the Three Wise Men see under magus

threescore and ten

Seventy

three times three

Three cheers repeated three times