triad

triad
    n 1: the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
         [syn: {three}, {3}, {III}, {trio}, {threesome}, {tierce},
         {leash}, {troika}, {triad}, {trine}, {trinity}, {ternary},
         {ternion}, {triplet}, {tercet}, {terzetto}, {trey}, {deuce-
         ace}]
    2: a set of three similar things considered as a unit [syn:
       {trio}, {triad}, {triplet}, {triple}]
    3: three people considered as a unit [syn: {trio}, {threesome},
       {triad}, {trinity}]
    4: a three-note major or minor chord; a note and its third and
       fifth tones [syn: {common chord}, {triad}]
    

Triad \Tri"ad\, n. [L. trias, -adis, Gr. ?, ?, fr.?, ?, three:
   cf. F. triade. See {Three}, and cf. {Trias}, {Trio}.]
   1. A union of three; three objects treated as one; a ternary;
      a trinity; as, a triad of deities.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mus.)
      (a) A chord of three notes.
      (b) The common chord, consisting of a tone with its third
          and fifth, with or without the octave.
          [1913 Webster]

   3. (Chem.) An element or radical whose valence is three.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Triads of the Welsh bards}, poetical histories, in which the
      facts recorded are grouped by threes, three things or
      circumstances of a kind being mentioned together.

   {Hindu triad}. See {Trimurti}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

59 Moby Thesaurus words for "triad":
      arpeggio, broken chord, chord, clover, common chord, concento,
      concord, consonant chord, deuce-ace, diminished seventh chord,
      dominant chord, enharmonic, leash, major triad, minor chord,
      set of three, seventh chord, shamrock, sixth chord, tercet,
      ternary, ternion, terzetto, three, threesome, tierce, tonic triad,
      trefoil, trey, trialogue, triangle, tricorn, trident, triennium,
      trihedron, trilogy, trimester, trine, trinity, trinomial, trio,
      triphthong, triple, triple crown, triple threat, triplet, triplopy,
      tripod, triptych, trireme, triseme, triskelion, trisul,
      triumvirate, triune, triunity, trivet, troika, unbroken chord