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

The base features a single-hinge flip-open clip to place the camera on top of a screen and a screw mount for a tripod. —PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2025

The Flow 2 can essentially be a smartphone tripod, sitting on the floor or tabletop to film content. —Ben Sin, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

On the Tuesday before holiday break, the students in Dianne Murray’s digital media class at Martin Middle School huddle around a camera on a tripod. —Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024

To photograph Saturday’s conjunction, Hunt recommends mounting a camera on a tripod and setting exposures for a few seconds. —John Meyer, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 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