treble

1 of 3

noun

tre·​ble ˈtre-bəl 

1

a

: the highest voice part in harmonic music : soprano

b

: one that performs a treble part

also : a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

c

: a high-pitched or shrill voice, tone, or sound

d

: the upper half of the whole vocal or instrumental tonal range compare bass

e

: the higher portion of the audio frequency range in sound recording and broadcasting

2

: something treble in construction, uses, amount, number, or value

treble

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: relating to or having the range or part of a treble

b

: high-pitched, shrill

c

: of, relating to, or having the range of treble in sound recording and broadcasting

treble frequencies

2

a

: having three parts or uses : threefold

b

: triple in number or amount

trebly

ˈtre-b(ə-)lē 

adverb

treble

3 of 3

verb

trebled; trebling ˈtre-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to increase threefold

intransitive verb

1

: to sing treble

2

: to grow to three times the size, amount, or number

Synonyms

Adjective

• shrill
• whistling
• shrieking

Examples of treble in a Sentence

Noun

Turn down the treble on the radio and turn up the bass.

The part is sung by a boy treble.

Adjective

the treble shrieks of children at play

a treble painting, with each panel telling a different part of the Nativity story

Verb

She trebled her earnings in only two years.

Prices have trebled in only two years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flick had a phenomenal first season in charge at Barcelona, winning the domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025

They are tuned to provide deep and powerful bass, while the treble can get too sharp at times. —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Adjective

The treble — a club winning their domestic league title, main domestic cup competition and the European Cup/Champions League — has happened 11 times, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich the only sides to do so more than once. —Will Jeanes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025

Breaking out impressively in 2023/2024, Fermin was also useful for Xavi’s successor Hansi Flick the following term and an integral part of a treble winning outfit. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Verb

By subtly adjusting bass and treble through the volume curve, the A100 ensure that every track can sound its best with a full and natural tone, no matter what the listening level. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Two dials adjust bass and treble with 6dB adjustments in either direction, and there's a volume dial at the top edge that’s simple to reach from the front of the speaker without having to search for it. —PC Magazine, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, the highest part in a three-part composition, from treble, adjective

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin triplus — more at triple

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing treble

• treble clef
• treble staff

Rhymes for treble

• jebel
• nebel
• pebble
• rebel
• jezebel

Kids Definition

treble

1 of 3 noun

tre·​ble ˈtreb-əl 

1

a

: the highest of the four voice parts in vocal music : soprano

b

: a singer or instrument having the highest range

2

: a high-pitched or shrill voice, tone, or sound

3

: the upper half of the musical pitch range compare bass entry 2

treble

2 of 3 adjective

1

a

: having three parts

b

: triple in number or amount

2

a

: relating to or having the range of a musical treble

treble voice

b

: high-pitched, shrill

trebly

ˈtreb-(ə-)lē 

adverb

treble

3 of 3 verb

trebled; trebling ˈtreb-(ə-)liŋ 

: to make or become three times the size, amount, or number