trio

noun TREE-oh Rare

Origin: From Italian tre (three), itself from Latin tres.

Usage Note

Trio is an invariable noun: the plural is also trio when used informally, though trii is the formal literary plural. It can refer to a musical ensemble of three, a group of three people, or three related items. In music, trio also denotes the contrasting middle section of a minuet or march.

Examples

"Il trio ha suonato per tutta la sera."

Natural Translation

The trio played all evening.

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