triad

/ˈtraɪæd/
noun
  1. A group or set of three closely related people or things.
    • The triad of colors—red, yellow, and blue—are the primary colors.
    • In music, a triad is a chord made up of three notes.
    • The three friends formed a triad that worked together on every school project.
  2. A secret criminal organization, especially one based in China.
    • He wrote a book about the history of triads in Southeast Asia.
    • Police have been investigating the triad's connections to smuggling rings.
    • The movie was about a triad involved in illegal activities across the city.
Synonyms
What does "triad" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean