trident

[ trahyd-nt ]

noun

1. a three-pronged instrument or weapon.
2. Roman History. a three-pronged spear used by a retiarius in gladiatorial combats.
3. Classical Mythology. the three-pronged spear forming a characteristic attribute of the sea god Poseidon, or Neptune.
4. a fish spear having three prongs.
5. Trident, Military. a 34-foot (10-meter) submarine-launched U.S. ballistic missile with eight to ten warheads and a range of 6,500 miles (10,459 km).

adjective

1. Also tri·den·tal [] having three prongs or tines.

trident

¹

/ ˈtraɪdənt /

noun

1. a three-pronged spear, originally from the East
2. (in Greek and Roman mythology) the three-pronged spear that the sea god Poseidon (Neptune) is represented as carrying
3. a three-pronged instrument, weapon, or symbol

adjective

1. having three prongs

Trident

²

/ ˈtraɪdənt /

noun

1. a type of US submarine-launched ballistic missile with independently targetable warheads

Word History and Origins

Origin of trident¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin trident- (stem of tridēns ) “having three teeth”; tri-, dent ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of trident¹

C16: from Latin tridēns three-pronged, from tri- + dēns tooth

Example Sentences

The craft to have been built in the hall include the four Vanguard Class submarines that make up the UK's Trident nuclear programme.

From BBC

The party would dismantle Britain’s entire Trident nuclear deterrent and remove all foreign nuclear weapons from UK soil.

From BBC

Plaid Cymru says it is opposed to nuclear weapons and the renewal of Trident.

From BBC

There’s no commitment that any money saved from scrapping Trident would go on conventional weapons instead.

From BBC

Even under Mr Corbyn, the party still supported Trident - although he was often reminded of saying in 2015 that he would never use it.

From BBC

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• dart
• harpoon
• skewer