# trio

/ˈtɹiˌoʊ/ (US) · /tɹˈiːəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trio
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a group of three

noun · CEFR B1

a group of three people or things that are often seen together.

For teachers: a set or group of three people or things, often implying a close relationship or shared purpose.

- The famous trio of friends always sat at the same table for lunch.
- The novel follows a trio of investigators as they navigate the complex political landscape of post-war Europe.

### 2. musical group

noun · CEFR B1

a group of three musicians who perform together.

For teachers: a musical ensemble consisting of three performers.

- The jazz trio played late into the night at the local club.
- The piano trio, consisting of a violinist, a cellist, and a pianist, received a standing ovation for their technical precision.

### 3. musical composition

noun · CEFR B2

a piece of music written to be played by three people.

For teachers: a musical composition written for three voices or instruments.

- The students practiced a difficult trio by Mozart for their final exam.
- Schubert's late chamber works include a hauntingly beautiful trio that challenges even the most seasoned performers.

### 4. musical section

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a middle section of a piece of music, like a minuet or a march.

For teachers: the second or middle section of a musical movement, such as a minuet, scherzo, or march, typically contrasting in texture or key.

- The band played the trio of the march more softly than the opening.
- In many classical symphonies, the trio provides a lyrical contrast to the more rhythmic character of the surrounding minuet.

### 5. creamy cocktail

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of cocktail made with a spirit, a sweet liqueur, and cream.

For teachers: a category of mixed drink consisting of a base spirit, a liqueur, and a cream-based ingredient.

- A Brandy Alexander is a classic trio served after dinner.
- The bartender specialized in trios, carefully balancing the heavy cream with high-proof spirits to ensure the drink remained sophisticated.

## Examples

- The jazz trio plays at the club every Friday night.
- The restaurant is famous for its trio of desserts, featuring small portions of cake, mousse, and sorbet.
- The chamber music series concluded with a demanding piano trio, requiring exceptional synchronicity between the violinist, cellist, and pianist throughout the four movements.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.