Treble
Treble , adjective
[Old English treble threefold, Old French treble, treible, Latin triplus. See Triple.]
1.
Threefold; triple.
A lofty tower, and strong on every side
With treble walls.
2.
(a) (Music) Acute; sharp; as, a treble sound.
(b)
(Music) Playing or singing the highest part or most acute sounds; playing or singing the treble; as, a treble violin or voice. — Bacon
Treble , adverb
Trebly; triply. [Obsolete] — J. Fletcher
Treble , noun
[“ It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [Lat.], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low).” Grove.]
(Music) The highest of the four principal parts in music; the part usually sung by boys or women; soprano.
It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [Lat.], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low).
This is sometimes called the first treble, to distinguish it from the second treble, or alto, which is sung by lower female voices.
Treble , transitive verb
1.
To make thrice as much; to make threefold.
Love trebled life.
2.
To utter in a treble key; to whine. [Obsolete]
He outrageously
(When I accused him) trebled his reply.
Treble , intransitive verb
To become threefold. — Swift