treble

[ treb-uhl ]

/ ˈtrɛb əl /

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See synonyms for: treble / trebles on Thesaurus.com

adjective

threefold; triple.

Music.

of or relating to the highest part in harmonized music; soprano.
of the highest pitch or range, as a voice part, voice, singer, or instrument.
high in pitch; shrill.

noun

Music.

the treble or soprano part.
a treble voice, singer, or instrument.

a high or shrill voice or sound.

the highest-pitched peal of a bell.

verb (used with or without object), tre·bled, tre·bling.

to make or become three times as much or as many; triple.

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Origin of treble

1275–1325; (adj. and noun) Middle English <Middle French <Latin triplustriple; (v.) Middle English treblen, derivative of the adj.

OTHER WORDS FROM treble

tre·bly

[treb-lee], /ˈtrɛb li/, adverb

Words nearby treble

treaty, treaty Indian, treaty port, Trebbia, Trebizond, treble, treble chance, treble clef, treble staff, Treblinka, trebuchet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use treble in a sentence

The sound profile skewed toward a brighter treble than equivalent headsets I’ve tested.
Skullcandy Hesh headphones review: An everyday overachiever|Andrew Waite|August 20, 2021|Popular-Science
Paavo Nurmi was ready for the same treble as Hassan in 1924, and more.
As Sifan Hassan Attempts Olympic Triple, a Look at Historic Multi-Medalists|jversteegh|August 4, 2021|Outside Online
That treble would let Hassan step on to a very special podium, with Paavo Nurmi, Emil Zátopek, and other multi-victory giants whose golden shadows still shimmer over the Tokyo track.
As Sifan Hassan Attempts Olympic Triple, a Look at Historic Multi-Medalists|jversteegh|August 4, 2021|Outside Online
On the app, you can control the sound mix using a single slider that scales from bass-heavy to treble-focused.
CX True Wireless review: Basic Sennheiser earbuds that sound anything but|Tony Ware|July 21, 2021|Popular-Science

The B652 Air set adds a ribbon tweeter for a more accurate treble definition.
The best bookshelf speakers fill your room with sound, not clutter|Tony Ware|July 19, 2021|Popular-Science
She looked through his list of potential song titles and came across one called “Treble Bass.”
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit|Marlow Stern|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the time of his death, Fleming had pulled off a rare treble in English literature.
James Bond is Back But is He Any Good without Fleming?|Robert McCrum|October 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The Seven-score and four on the six middle Bells, the treble leading, and the tenor lying behind every change, makes good Musick.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
Sir Peter Edlin, it seems, has been doing treble the amount of work for a two-third's salary.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
The simplest form was the Doublette sounding the 15th and 22nd (the double and treble octave) of the note struck.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
Thou knittest togider the mene sowle of treble kinde, moeving alle thinges'; &c.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer

British Dictionary definitions for treble

treble

/ (ˈtrɛbəl) /

adjective

threefold; triple

of, relating to, or denoting a soprano voice or part or a high-pitched instrument

noun

three times the amount, size, etc

a soprano voice or part or a high-pitched instrument

the highest register of a musical instrument

the high-frequency response of an audio amplifier, esp in a record player or tape recorder
a control knob on such an instrument by means of which the high-frequency gain can be increased or decreased

bell-ringing the lightest and highest bell in a ring

the narrow inner ring on a dartboard
a hit on this ring

verb

to make or become three times as much

Derived forms of treble

trebleness, nountrebly, adverb, adjective

Word Origin for treble

C14: from Old French, from Latin triplus threefold, triple

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

treble

Origin of treble

OTHER WORDS FROM treble

Words nearby treble

Words related to treble

How to use treble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for treble

Derived forms of treble

Word Origin for treble