trio

noun \ ˈtrē-(ˌ)ō \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of trio

plural trios

1 a : a musical composition for three voice parts or three instruments

b : the secondary or episodic division of a minuet or scherzo, a march, or of various dance forms

2 : the performers of a musical or dance trio

3 : a group or set of three

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Examples of trio in a Sentence

He plays in a jazz trio.
the band was just a trio of musicians on piano, drums, and saxophone

Recent Examples of trio from the Web

After all, the Wizards will live and die with the Wall/Beal/Porter trio, as all three have cashed in with major long-term contracts.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "The All-Bullseye Team: Five All-Stars Facing Serious Playoff Pressure," 4 Apr. 2018
Not all potholes are created equal — and some, such as a trio of teeth-rattling craters in Charlestown, have cost the city thousands of dollars in payments to drivers whose vehicles were damaged by the gaping cavities.

— laura crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, "Car damaged by a pothole? The city might pay you back," 1 Apr. 2018
This Austin Americana-blues trio — singer-keyboardist Anthony Farrell, singer-guitarist Andrew Trube and drummer Ed Miles — will play at Shipping & Receiving on Friday.

— sandy guerra-cline, star-telegram, "Have fun with the Easter Bunny and the 'top 10 things to do' list | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 27 Mar. 2018
Root’ Sonnymoon, a trio of beat makers and vocalists, is staking out some unclaimed terrain between ambient and 8-bit and Gen X house.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Shawn Mendes Shows His Scars, and 9 More New Songs," 23 Mar. 2018
But during spring training, the Orioles added a trio of veterans, signing right-hander Andrew Cashner, re-signing right-hander Chris Tillman and this week inking right-hander Alex Cobb to a four-year deal.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles name Dylan Bundy their Opening Day starter," 22 Mar. 2018
Comedy curator Chelsea Quinn is excited about The Wave, a trio known from Comedy Central’s Roast Battle; Atsuko Okatsuka, who was the co-founder of the first-ever all-Asian, mostly female comedy tour in the U.S.; and Jackie Fabulous.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "How One Local Music Fest Became the Coolest Coachella Alternative," 21 Mar. 2018
As talented as Randolph, Lee and Akot are, that trio without an incoming freshman class to reinforce it, is a clear step down.

— greg moore, azcentral, "Moore: What's next for Arizona Wildcats after first-round NCAA Tournament exit?," 16 Mar. 2018
The Bucks rely heavily on a senior trio: 6-5 wing Collin MacAdams, 6-3 forward Jake Reichwein, and guard Shane McCusker (41 three-pointers).

— rick o'brien, Philly.com, "PIAA boys' basketball playoffs continue Saturday for nine area teams," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trio.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.