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noun Uncommon

trident

TREYE-duhnt

Trident (noun) means a spear with three prongs, similar to a pitchfork. Example: “Statues of the sea god Poseidon often show him holding a trident.”

noun
1
A spear with three prongs, similar to a pitchfork.
"Statues of the sea god Poseidon often show him holding a trident."
name
1
The UK's submarine-launched nuclear missile system.
"Parliament debated whether to renew the Trident programme."

How to use trident

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA three-pronged spear — or, capitalized, the name of a British nuclear weapons system.

Word forms

tridents plural

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Fill the gap

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Statues of the sea god Poseidon often show him holding a _____.

Etymology

From Latin tridens, combining tri- ("three") and dens ("tooth").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for trident

See all rhymes for trident →

Frequently asked questions

What does “trident” mean?

The word “trident” means a spear with three prongs, similar to a pitchfork. In plain terms, a three-pronged spear — or, capitalized, the name of a British nuclear weapons system.

How do you pronounce “trident”?

“Trident” is pronounced TREYE-duhnt (/ˈtɹaɪ̯dənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “trident” in a sentence?

Here is “trident” used in a sentence: “Statues of the sea god Poseidon often show him holding a trident.”

What part of speech is “trident”?

Depending on how it is used, “trident” can be a noun and a name.

Where does the word “trident” come from?

The word “trident” comes from Latin. From Latin tridens, combining tri- ("three") and dens ("tooth").

Is “trident” a common word?

“Trident” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “trident” have?

“Trident” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a spear with three prongs, similar to a pitchfork.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial