English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

Tripoli

TRIH-puh-lee

Tripoli (noun) means a soft, powdery rock made from the fossilized shells of tiny algae, used as a fine abrasive for polishing metal and stone. Example: “The jeweler used tripoli powder to bring a mirror shine to the silver ring.”

noun
1
A soft, powdery rock made from the fossilized shells of tiny algae, used as a fine abrasive for polishing metal and stone.
"The jeweler used tripoli powder to bring a mirror shine to the silver ring."
"Tripoli compound is worked into a buffing wheel before it ever touches the metal."

How to use Tripoli

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gritty rock powder used for polishing, unrelated in modern use to any city.

Word forms

tripolis plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Tripoli” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The jeweler used _____ powder to bring a mirror shine to the silver ring.

Etymology

Named after the city of Tripoli, one of the historical sources from which the polishing rock was traded.

Origin: Polish

Trablous Tarabulus rottenstone

Related words

Rhymes for Tripoli

See all rhymes for Tripoli →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Tripoli” mean?

The word “Tripoli” means a soft, powdery rock made from the fossilized shells of tiny algae, used as a fine abrasive for polishing metal and stone. In plain terms, a gritty rock powder used for polishing, unrelated in modern use to any city.

How do you pronounce “Tripoli”?

“Tripoli” is pronounced TRIH-puh-lee (/ˈtɹɪpəli/ in IPA).

How do you use “Tripoli” in a sentence?

Here is “Tripoli” used in a sentence: “The jeweler used tripoli powder to bring a mirror shine to the silver ring.”

What part of speech is “Tripoli”?

“Tripoli” is a noun.

Where does the word “Tripoli” come from?

The word “Tripoli” comes from Polish. Named after the city of Tripoli, one of the historical sources from which the polishing rock was traded.

Is “Tripoli” a common word?

“Tripoli” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial