three — English Dictionary

Numeral

1. A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four.

   Examples

   Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.

   There is a soft-mat seat (which originally had a palm fiber underwebbing) supported by three curved transverse braces.

   More examples (4)

   Okay, on three, we open the door and jump on the rope. One, two… Wait, wait! Do we go on three? Or do we go on “go”? Three! Who said anything about “go”?

   Now we continue zooming-in in three different directions depending on the number of ones.

   Why should she care? One…two… Do we shoot on three? Yes on three. Like one, two, three, shoot.

   The beetles are named Binburrum articuno, Binburrum moltres and Binburrum zapdos after three rare Pokémon: Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.

2. Describing a set or group with three elements.

Noun

1. The digit/figure 3.

   Examples

   In our example, 1210 has 1 zero, 2 ones, 1 two and 0 threes.

2. Anything measuring three units, as length.

   Examples

   Put all the threes in a separate container.

3. A person who is three years old.

   Examples

   All the threes will go in Mrs. Smith's class, while I'll take the fours and fives.

4. The playing card featuring three pips.

5. Three o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   It was a weary time. A carriage clock had been placed on the discoloured wooden mantelpiece, and slowly its hands crept on from one to two and from two to three.

Adjective

1. being one more than two

   Synonyms

   iii

Noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

   Synonyms

   IIItriothreesometierceleashtroikatriadtrinetrinityternaryterniontriplettercetterzettotreydeuce-ace

   Broader terms

   digitfigure

2. one of four playing cards in a deck having three pips

   Synonyms

   trey

   Broader terms

   playing card