trio

n 1: the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

[syn: {three}, {3}, {III}, {threesome}, {tierce}, {leash},

{troika}, {triad}, {trine}, {trinity}, {ternary}, {ternion},

{triplet}, {tercet}, {terzetto}, {trey}, {deuce-ace}]

2: a musical composition for three performers

3: three performers or singers who perform together

4: a set of three similar things considered as a unit [syn: {triad},

{triplet}]

5: three people considered as a unit [syn: {threesome}, {triad},

{trinity}]

trit

/trit/ (By analogy with "{bit}") One base-3 digit; the

amount of information conveyed by a selection among one of

three equally likely outcomes. Trits arise, for example, in

the context of a {flag} that should actually be able to assume

▫three▫ values - such as yes, no, or unknown. Trits are

sometimes jokingly called "3-state bits". A trit may be

semi-seriously referred to as "a bit and a half", although it

is linearly equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is, log2(3)

bits).

[{Jargon File}]

(1995-05-11)