trident Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a spear with three prongs

WordNet

Tri"dent noun
Etymology
L. tridens, -entis; tri- (see Tri-) + dens tooth: cf. F. trident. See Tooth.
Definitions
  1. (Class Myth.) A kind of scepter or spear with three prongs, -- the common attribute of Neptune.
  2. (Rom. Antiq.) A three-pronged spear or goad, used for urging horses; also, the weapon used by one class of gladiators.
  3. A three-pronged fish spear.
  4. (Geom.) A curve of third order, having three infinite branches in the direction and a fourth infinite branch in the opposite direction.
Tri"dent adjective
Etymology
L. tridens.
Definitions
  1. Having three teeth or prongs; tridentate.

Webster 1913