tripod

noun

tri·​pod ˈtrī-ˌpäd 

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 

ˈtrī-ˌpä-

Examples of tripod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If everything works out, a pledge of HK$1,390 (about US$179) will get you a package that includes a Cube o1 with a tripod, ball mount, telescopic rod and charging cable. —New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025

Eucos Phone Tripod Kit Up-and coming content creators will appreciate this tripod kit, which comes with a phone mount, selfie stick, and remote to make recording TikToks, video calls, or vlogs a lot more convenient. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025

Top tips to photograph the moon Use a tripod to keep your camera as steady as possible. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Dec. 2025

Cameras should be focused on the moon, not the sky, and tripods can help stabilize the image, the space agency said. —Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for tripod

• abroad
• applaud
• backboard
• ballade
• defraud
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod
• roughshod
• slipshod

Kids Definition

tripod

noun

tri·​pod ˈtrī-ˌpäd 

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 

: a bone having three processes