tripoli

noun

trip·​o·​li ˈtri-pə-lē How to pronounce tripoli (audio)
1
: an earth consisting of very friable soft schistose deposits of silica and including diatomite and kieselguhr
2
: an earth consisting of friable dustlike silica not of diatomaceous origin

Word History

Etymology

French, from Tripoli, region of Africa

First Known Use

circa 1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tripoli was circa 1601

Dictionary Entries Near tripoli

Cite this Entry

“Tripoli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tripoli. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Tripoli

geographical name

Trip·​o·​li ˈtri-pə-lē How to pronounce Tripoli (audio)
1
or Arabic Ṭarābulus or ancient Tripolis city and port on the Mediterranean Sea in northwestern Lebanon north-northeast of Beirut population 127,611
2
or Arabic Ṭarābulus or ancient Oea city and port on the Mediterranean Sea in northwestern Libya population 591,062

Note: Tripoli is the capital of Libya.

3
Tripolitania when it was one of the Barbary States
Tripolitan adjective or noun

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