tripod

noun tri·pod \ ˈtrī-ˌpäd \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Definition of tripod

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

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tripod

or tripodal play \ˈtri-pə-dᵊl, ˈtrī-ˌpä-\ adjective

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Recent Examples of tripod from the Web

Visitors stand under an enormous ring of steel tilted on a tripod.

— elisabetta povoledo, New York Times, "The Most Surprising Entry in Venice’s Architecture Biennale? The Vatican’s," 25 May 2018
The Last Laugh The 1924 film in which F.W. Murnau freed his camera from its stationary tripod and took it on a flight of imagination and expression that changed the way movies were made.

— patrick friel, Chicago Reader, "Architecture / Film / Foreign / On Video Check in, then check out these five iconic hotel movies," 16 May 2018
The adorable toy can go from bipod to tripod stances, bleep and bloop with an integrated Speaker and LEDs, and even has unique responses that can only be trigged by watching Star Wars movies with it by your side.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Today's Best Deals: A Discount on Your Very Own R2-D2," 27 Apr. 2018
Dater’s beloved 1972 Deardorff large-format camera stood on a tripod by a large rear window.

— jessica zack, San Francisco Chronicle, "Judy Dater retrospective celebrates photographer’s focus on people," 2 Apr. 2018
When my father turned 40, his friends threw him a funeral-themed birthday party, complete with black balloons, flowers, and one of those cheesy portraits on a tripod.

— graham averill, Outside Online, "The Secret to Athletic Longevity Is Surprisingly Simple," 17 May 2018
Up at the church itself, one of the organizers estimated 400 to 500 people had congregated, many of whom had brought picnic blankets, tripods, expensive cameras, and foldout chairs.

— geoff manaugh, The Atlantic, "Los Angeles, America’s Future Spaceport," 17 May 2018
One tripod table sold for $13,750, above a high estimate of $5,000, and an armchair went for $35,000, above its high estimate of $6,000.

— Fortune, "The 10 Biggest Surprises From the $828 Million Rockefeller Auction," 12 May 2018
This steady tripod positioning will keep your foot properly stabilized through the lowering portion of the lunge, which, in turn, can help keep your hips stable.

— jenny mccoy, SELF, "The Difference Between Forward and Reverse Lunges, and How to Choose Which to Do," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tripod.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tripod

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year