triplet (triplet)

[ At Trani each of the seven arches of the nave has a triplet of round arches over it, and a single clerestory window above that. E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 305. 2. In poetry, three verses or lines riming together. He laugh'd as is his wont, and answer'd me In riddling triplets of old time. Tennyson, Coming of Arthur. 3. In music, a group of three tones to be performed in the time of two or four. Such groups are marked 3. Compare sextuplet, decimole, etc.-4. A combination of three plano-convex lenses in a compound microscope, which serves to render the object clear and distinct, and free from distortion-an improvement upon the doublet (see doublet, 2 ( b )); also, a hand-micro scope consisting of three double-convex lenses.-5. In math., a system of three families of surfaces such that one of each family pa es through each point of space.-6. One of three children born at one birth. [Colloq.] We have in mind at this moment a case of three females, triplets, all of whom lived past middle age. Flint, Physiology, p. 941. 7. pl. Three links of chain, generally used to connect the cable with the anchor-ring. - 8. A bicycle for three riders. - Orthogonal triplet, a system of three families of surfaces cutting one another at right angles. Triplet monster, in teratol., a monster having parts tripled. - We in gar ten triplet, an orthog onal triplet of which one family consists of surfaces all having the same constant curvature throughout.