Meaning & use
triplet
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Meanings
nouncountable
One of three children born to the same mother at the same birth.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural: 'They have triplets.'
Patterns
- a triplet
- identical triplets
- triplets are born
She gave birth to triplets last week.
The couple was surprised to learn they were expecting triplets.
The triplets all look very similar.
nouncountable
A group of three similar things or people.
Grammar: Countable; often followed by 'of': 'a triplet of notes'.
Patterns
- a triplet of something
- in triplets
The poem is written in triplets of rhyming lines.
The band played a triplet of songs from their new album.
These three paintings form a triplet.
nouncountablemusic
In music, a group of three notes played in the time normally taken by two.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural: 'play triplets'.
Patterns
- play triplets
- a triplet of notes
The pianist practiced the triplets slowly at first.
A triplet is marked with a small '3' above the notes.
The rhythm features rapid triplets in the right hand.
Word forms
| plural | triplets |
|---|
Common combinations
- identical triplets
- Identical triplets come from a single fertilized egg.
- a triplet of notes
- The melody ends with a triplet of notes.
- expecting triplets
- She is expecting triplets in the spring.
- give birth to triplets
- The hospital reported that she gave birth to triplets.
Synonyms and how they differ
- threesome
- A group of three people or things, but not used for siblings born together.
- trio
- A group of three, often of musicians or performers; not used for babies.
Word family
- triple adjective
- Consisting of three parts or three times as much.
- triplets noun
- Plural form, referring to three children born together.
Commonly confused: triplet or triple? triplet or triplicate?
triplet vs triple
Triple is an adjective or verb meaning 'three times'; triplet is a noun for one of three babies or a group of three.
triplet vs triplicate
Triplicate means 'three copies', not a sibling or musical group.
Practice
She was surprised when the doctor told her she was expecting _____.
Choose one answer.
The plural noun 'triplets' is the correct term for three babies born at the same time. 'Triples' is not used for babies, 'triple' is an adjective or verb, and 'triplicating' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “triplet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.