[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/three/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / three

# three

number (three, threes); noun (a three); ordinal third

«three» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Three is the number 3, one more than two. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m1)
2. A three is the digit 3 or a card, die face or team with 3 on it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m2)
3. A third is one of three equal parts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m3)
4. (casual) «Threesies», «three-peat» (US sport, winning three times) and «a three» (a basket worth 3 points) are slang. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m4)
5. (casual) «Three's a crowd» means two friends want to be alone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m5)
6. (formal) Exams may write «thrice» (three times), «triple», «a triad» or «a trio», and numbers in words: «three hundred and three». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#m6)

### In the lessons

an amount told in words; «three times» is × 3; «third» is the place after second; a triangle has 3 sides; phrases: «three times as many», «three in a row», «three quarters», «the three Rs» (reading, writing, arithmetic); in casual talk «three's a crowd», «a three-pointer», «give me three secs»; in rough talk «I'll count to three, then you're in trouble» (a warning); in the exam voice «thrice», «treble», «a trio of», «a third part thereof»

### Examples

- I put three spoons on the table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x1)
- Three friends share 9 grapes equally. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x2)
- Ben is three years older than Tom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x3)
- A triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x4)
- Count in threes: 3, 6, 9, 12. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x5)
- The baby is three years old. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x6)
- Ready, steady, go on three! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x7)
- Gimme three secs, I'm nearly done. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x8)
- I'm counting to three, then you're in big trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x9)
- He sank a three and won the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x10)
- A quantity is trebled and yields 27. Determine the original quantity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x11)
- A third of 12 is 4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x12)
- Three brothers are ploughing over there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/#x13)

### Note

A number word: read it as 3. Trap: «three times as many» is × 3, not + 3. «third» is the order word: the third girl, a third of a cake (÷ 3). «thrice», «treble» and «triple» all mean × 3. «three's a crowd» has no number meaning in a problem.

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Three is often a sign of firmness in tradition: three patriarchs, three pilgrim festivals, and three days of preparation before Sinai. In the primary lessons: an amount told in words; «three times» is × 3; «third» is the place after second; a triangle has 3 sides; phrases: «three times as many», «three in a row», «three quarters», «the three Rs» (reading, writing, arithmetic); in casual talk «three's a crowd», «a three-pointer», «give me three secs»; in rough talk «I'll count to three, then you're in trouble» (a warning); in the exam voice «thrice», «treble», «a trio of», «a third part thereof»

### Examples

- And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Torah GEN.6.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x1)
- And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob. (Torah GEN.30.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x2)
- And he put them all together into ward three days. (Torah GEN.42.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x3)
- These things did the three mighty men. (Prophets 2SA.23.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x4)
- And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. (Prophets JDG.9.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x5)
- The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. (Writings EZR.2.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/#x6)

### Note

A number word: read it as 3. Trap: «three times as many» is × 3, not + 3. «third» is the order word: the third girl, a third of a cake (÷ 3). «thrice», «treble» and «triple» all mean × 3. «three's a crowd» has no number meaning in a problem.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «three» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/three/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«three» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/three.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «three» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/three/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«three» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/three.html) on Mova free.