Tre"ble (?), a. [OE. treble threefold, OF. treble, treible, L. triplus. See Triple.]

1.

Threefold; triple.

A lofty tower, and strong on every side With treble walls. Dryden.

2. Mus. (a)

Acute; sharp; as, a treble sound.

Bacon. (b)

Playing or singing the highest part or most acute sounds; playing or singing the treble; as, a treble violin or voice.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tre"ble, adv.

Trebly; triply.

[Obs.]

J. Fletcher.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tre"ble, n. [" It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [Lat.], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low)." Grove.] Mus.

The highest of the four principal parts in music; the part usually sung by boys or women; soprano.

⇒ This is sometimes called the first treble, to distinguish it from the second treble, or alto, which is sung by lower female voices.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tre"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trebled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Trebling.]

1.

To make thrice as much; to make threefold.

"Love trebled life."

Tennyson.

2.

To utter in a treble key; to whine.

[Obs.]

He outrageously (When I accused him) trebled his reply. Chapman.

 

© Webster 1913.


Tre"ble, v. i.

To become threefold.

Swift.

 

© Webster 1913.