tripod

IPA/ˈtraɪpɒd/
KK[trˈaɪpˌɑd]IPA/ˈtraɪpɑːd/

tripod — noun

  • tripodsingular
  • tripodsplural

1. a three-legged stand that holds a camera, telescope, or other device steady so t

1.nounB1
Definition

a three-legged stand that holds a camera, telescope, or other device steady so that it does not shake while you use it

Example

Saira set up her tripod on the hilltop before the sunset.

possessive determiner: her tripod

Tariq adjusted his tripod on the rooftop before the meteor shower began.

adjust + tripod + location for event preparation

Common collocations
  • set up a tripod
  • pack the tripod
  • adjust the tripod legs
  • tripod mount
  • lightweight tripod
  • sturdy tripod
  • tripod head
Synonyms
  • stand

    more general — a stand can have any number of legs or a single base; less specific than tripod

  • support

    very broad — any object that holds something up; not specialized for photography

  • monopod

    has only one leg, used for lighter cameras; related but different equipment

Grammar Patterns

a tripod

someone's tripod

Usage Note

Often used with verbs like set up, pack, carry, or fold. The legs of a tripod can usually be extended or adjusted individually.

Common Mistakes

I put my camera on a tri-pod.
I put my camera on a tripod.
'tripod' is one word, not a hyphenated term.

Word family

  • tripodal
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Tripod, stand, support, and monopod all refer to objects that hold something up, but their scopes differ. A tripod specifically has three adjustable legs and is designed to keep cameras, telescopes, or surveying instruments perfectly steady. A stand is more general: a microphone stand or a cake stand may have a single base or a different number of legs. Support is the broadest term — almost anything that holds another object can be called a support, from a shelf bracket to a handrail. A monopod has only one leg and gives some stability to a camera but does not keep it as still as a tripod does. For example, a wildlife photographer might use a monopod for quick shots but switch to a tripod for a long exposure of a landscape.

stand ↗support ↗monopod ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • tripod leg
  • tripod head
  • tripod mount
  • tripod bag
  • tripod case

Phrases

  • set up a tripod
  • pack away a tripod
  • fold down a tripod
  • extend the tripod legs

Prepositions

  • on a tripod
  • off the tripod

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Tripod comes from the Greek word tripous, meaning 'three-footed' — from tri- (three) and pous (foot). It entered English in the 1600s, first referring to three-legged tables and stools, then later to stands for scientific instruments and cameras.