tripod

noun

tri·​pod ˈtrī-ˌpäd How to pronounce tripod (audio)
1
: a three-legged stand (as for a camera)
2
: a stool, table, or altar with three legs
3
: a vessel (such as a cauldron) resting on three legs
tripod adjective
or tripodal
ˈtri-pə-dᵊl How to pronounce tripod (audio)
ˈtrī-ˌpä-

Examples of tripod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tripod Projector Screen Elevate movie night with this Hearth and Home tripod projector screen that’s a best-seller (and on sale) at Target. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2025 Three years ago, a Chinese startup called Outask had a vision for a more versatile lantern, one with an upper body shell that splits out into a tripod with magnetic mounting – pretty cool, but ultimately not cool enough for the folks who built it. New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025 Those who've purchased it also express its excellence for beginners, with a few saying that the tripod could be more stable. Chris McMullen, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Plus, for the social media content creator, there’s a color-changing ring light that comes with its own tripod stand. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tripod

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin tripod-, tripus, from Greek tripod-, tripous, from tripod-, tripous, adjective, three-footed, from tri- + pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of tripod was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tripod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tripod. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tripod

noun
tri·​pod ˈtrī-ˌpäd How to pronounce tripod (audio)
1
: something (as a container or stool) resting on three legs
2
: a three-legged stand (as for a camera)

Medical Definition

tripod

noun
tri·​pod ˈtrī-ˌpäd How to pronounce tripod (audio)
: a bone having three processes

More from Merriam-Webster on tripod

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