First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1triple
verb tri·ple \ˈtri-pəl\
: to cause (something) to become three times as great or as many
: to become three times as great or as many
baseball : to hit a triple : to hit the ball so that you can reach third base
tri·pledtri·pling \-p(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of TRIPLE
transitive verb
1
: to make three times as great or as many
2
a : to score (a base runner) by a triple b : to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a triple
intransitive verb
1
: to become three times as great or as numerous <their profits tripled last year>
2
: to make a triple in baseball
See triple defined for English-language learners
See triple defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of TRIPLE
Middle English (Scots), from Late Latin triplare, from Latin triplus, adjective
2triple
noun
baseball : a hit that allows the batter to reach third base
Full Definition of TRIPLE
1
a : a triple sum, quantity, or number b : a combination, group, or series of three
2
: a base hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely
3
: trifecta 1
See triple defined for English-language learners
Origin of TRIPLE
Middle English, from Latin triplus, adjective
First Known Use: 15th century
3triple
adjective
: three times bigger in size or amount
: having three parts or including three people or things
Full Definition of TRIPLE
1
: being three times as great or as many
2
: having or involving three units or members <triple bypass heart surgery>
3
: having a threefold relation or character <worked as a double or even triple agent — Time>
4
a : three times repeated : treble b : having three full revolutions <a triple somersault> <a triple lutz>
5
: marked by three beats per musical measure <triple meter>
6
a : having units of three components <triple feet> b of rhyme : involving correspondence of three syllables (as in unfortunate-importunate)
See triple defined for English-language learners
Origin of TRIPLE
Middle English, from Latin triplus, from tri- + -plus multiplied by — more at -fold
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to TRIPLE
- Synonyms
- threefold, treble, triadic, tripartite, triplex
Other Number-Related Terms
TRIPLE Defined for Kids
1triple
verb tri·ple \ˈtri-pəl\
tri·pledtri·pling
Definition of TRIPLE for Kids
: to make or become three times as great or as many <I tripled my savings.>
2triple
noun
Definition of TRIPLE for Kids
1
: a sum, amount, or number that is three times as great
2
: a combination, group, or series of three
3
: a hit in baseball that lets the batter reach third base
3triple
adjective
Definition of TRIPLE for Kids
1
: having three units or parts
2
: being three times as great or as many
3
: repeated three times
Learn More About TRIPLE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: triple–A (adjective)Previous Word in the Dictionary: TriplarisAll Words Near: triple
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up triple? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).