three
Americannoun
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a cardinal number, 2 plus 1.
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a symbol for this number, as 3 or III.
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a set of this many persons or things.
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a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with three pips.
adjective
idioms
noun
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the cardinal number that is the sum of two and one and is a prime number See also number
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a numeral, 3, III, (iii), representing this number
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the amount or quantity that is one greater than two
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something representing, represented by, or consisting of three units such as a playing card with three symbols on it
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Also called: three o'clock. three hours after noon or midnight
determiner
Etymology
Origin of three
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thrēo, thrīo, feminine and neuter of thrī(e); cognate with Dutch drie, German drei, Old Norse thrīr, Gothic threis, Greek treîs, Latin trēs “three,” ter “thrice,” Irish trí, Old Church Slavonic tri, Sanskrit trī, tráyas
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hundreds of protesters in Iraq, which officially declared three days of mourning for Khamenei, also tried to storm the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, where the US embassy is located.
From Barron's
But China's Wu, 22, responded in stunning fashion to level the match at 4-4 by reeling off three consecutive frames thanks to a pair of half-centuries and a 122 break.
From BBC
Full of thunderous strings and Wagnerian vocals, it starts off as an opera song, changes tempo three times, introduces a guest verse from Bjork and ends with an almighty rave breakdown.
From BBC
Attwood has recently separated from her husband of three years, footballer Bradley Dack, which she says made her feel "incredibly passionate" about being self-sufficient.
From BBC
The New York Times reported that he had chosen "three senior clerics" as possible replacements if he were to be assassinated.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
