three

First odd prime

Three is the cardinal number between two and four, represented by the numeral 3.

It appears throughout language in set phrases: three strikes and you're out, third time's the charm, good things come in threes.

Three often suggests completeness or pattern—beginning, middle, and end; small, medium, and large.

We have three kids.

grouping

treble

High frequency range

trinityUnified set of three
triumvirateThree-person ruling body
triptychArt in three panels

trilogy · triathlon · tricolor · ternary · trimurti · trivium · triune · trifecta · triplet · tripod

cultural

musketeers

Soldiers armed with firearms

wishesThings hoped for
bearsSupports or tolerates
pigsDomesticated farm swine

kings · graces · fates · stooges · amigos · tenors · wise men · strikes · cheers · charm

counting

one

Lowest positive integer

twoNumber after one
fourNumber after three
fiveFour plus one

six · seven · eight · nine · ten · zero · digit · numeral · count · number

mathematics

prime

Readying for action

oddUnusual or not even
factorContributor to result
digitSingle numeric character

integer · sum · addition · multiplication · division · equation · arithmetic · computation · Fibonacci · counting

music

harmony

Agreement or musical blend

ensembleUnified group or outfit
bandGroup playing music together
musiciansPeople who create music

chamber · waltz · time · beat · meter · rhythm · jazz · collaboration · arrangement

quantity

few

Small in number

handfulAmount a palm holds
coupleTwo linked together
severalMore than two, fewer than many

some · small · limited · scant · minimal · sparse · meager · slight · modest · paltry

Categories

arithmeticaddition, subtraction, multiplication, division, sum
Early Mathcounting, numbers, addition, subtraction, zero
numbersone, two, four, 0, five
countingcounting, count, count up, countdown, tally
long E soundbee, fee, see, tee, free
TH Wordsthe, this, that, them, they

Opposites

numerical quantity

threezero

Numerical absence of quantity

none · one · infinity · million · negative three

plurality vs. pairing

threetwo

Number after one

pair · couple · duo · one · single

symbolic/cultural number meaning

threefour

Number after three

seven · one · thirteen

Phrases

three o'clockSpecific afternoon time
three daysTrio of consecutive dates
three timesOn three occasions
three-point turnsMulti-step vehicle reversals
three wishesFolklore's granted requests
three hundredNumeral after 299

Family

threes, threefold, thrice, three-quarters, threesome, threepenny, three-cornered, three-quarter

Familiarity: Top 500
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G