triple

I. verb (tripled; tripling) Etymology: Middle English (Scots), from Late Latin triplare, from Latin triplus, adjective Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to make three times as great or as many 2. a. to score (a base runner) by a triple b. to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a triple intransitive verb 1. to become three times as great or as numerous <

their profits tripled last year

> 2. to make a triple in baseball II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin triplus, adjective Date: 15th century 1. a. a triple sum, quantity, or number b. a combination, group, or series of three 2. a base hit that allows the batter to reach third base safely 3. trifecta 1 III. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin triplus, from tri- + -plus multiplied by — more at -fold Date: 15th century 1. being three times as great or as many 2. having or involving three units or members <

triple bypass heart surgery

> 3. having a threefold relation or character <

worked as a double or even triple agent — Time

> 4. a. three times repeated ; treble b. having three full revolutions <

a triple somersault

> <

a triple lutz

> 5. marked by three beats per musical measure <

triple meter

> 6. a. having units of three components <

triple feet

> b. of rhyme involving correspondence of three syllables (as in unfortunate-importunate)