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• triad
  triad

  noun

  a group of three, especially of three closely related persons or things.
• Triad
  Triad

  noun

  any of several Chinese secret societies, esp one involved in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking

triad

American  

[trahy-ad, -uhd] / ˈtraɪ æd, -əd /

noun

1. a group of three, especially of three closely related persons or things.

2. Chemistry.

   1. an element, atom, or group having a valence of three.

   2. a group of three closely related compounds or elements, as isomers or halides.

3. Music. a chord of three tones, especially one consisting of a given tone with its major or minor third and its perfect, augmented, or diminished fifth.

4. Military. Triad, the three categories of delivery systems for strategic nuclear weapons, namely bombers, land-based missiles, and missile-firing submarines.

   The report says this missile is required in order to sustain an effective air leg of the Triad.

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triad ¹ British  

/ ˈtraɪæd /

noun

1. a group of three; trio

2. chem an atom, element, group, or ion that has a valency of three

3. music a three-note chord consisting of a note and the third and fifth above it

4. an aphoristic literary form used in medieval Welsh and Irish literature

5. the US strategic nuclear force, consisting of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and bombers

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Triad ² British  

/ ˈtraɪæd /

noun

1. any of several Chinese secret societies, esp one involved in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking

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Other Word Forms

• triadic
  adjective
• triadism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of triad

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin triad- (stem of trias ), from Greek triás; see tri-, -ad ¹

Explanation

A triad is three things or people considered as one unit. A triad is a trio. A triangle is a shape with three sides. Similarly, a triad is a set of three things or people. To be a triad, three individual parts must also be considered a unit. A band with three members is a triad. A business with three divisions is a triad. A family with three members is a triad. A book with three volumes is a triad (usually called a trilogy). Triads are also called threesomes and trios.

Example Sentences

The case to replace the entire Triad with new weapons began with an act of deception.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2024

In this case, Bruce's Groundlings improv instruction is literally his secret weapon to dealing with the various Triad members who only know how to approach situations through violence or intimidation.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2024

The subsidiary’s coverage area includes Charlotte, Durham and the Triad.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2023

“He had enormous culturally influential success in three different industries — comedy with Catch, music with Pat Benatar and restaurants with Columbus,” Mr. Martin, his business partner in the Triad, said by email.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2023

They constitute the well known Trimurti or Triad of divine forms which characterizes Hindooism.

From Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Being a Comparison of the Old and New Testament Myths and Miracles with those of the Heathen Nations of Antiquity Considering also their Origin and Meaning by Doane, T. W.

Related Words

• triumvirate