Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tribble

/ˈtɹɪbl̩/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.08 in modern English

Syllables: trib-ble
IPA: /ˈtɹɪbl̩/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A horizontal frame with wires stretched across it for drying paper.

noun

A fictional alien creature in Star Trek, a fast-breeding, cooing ball of fur.

name

Example Sentences

"Scales have proliferated like tribbles in quadra-triticale: just intonations, equal temperaments, scales based on overtones, scales generated from a single interval or pair of intervals, scales without octaves, scales arising from arcane mathematical formulas, scales that reflect cosmological or religious structures, scales that "come from the heart.""
"The Hyper-Producing Playwrights of Edmondton: Or Why Alberta’s Capital Breeds New Plays Like Tribbles."
"They were like tribbles, multiplying by the dozens, cackling, giggling their maniacal joy at the game."
"They breed like tribbles, but at least they’re not terrestrial."
"Career diplomat Conrad Tribble said on Twitter that multiculturalism “is one of our greatest strengths as a country, and I go to that well often as an American diplomat. It’s hard to overstate the global soft power impact of America’s cultural diversity.”"

Etymology

Unknown. The Century Dictionary suggests possibly a corruption of cribble (“sieve”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈtɹɪbl̩/

Inflected Forms

tribbles (plural) treble (alternative)

Rhymes With

dribble nibble scribble quibble kibble sibyl ribble dibble gribble diboll gibble pribble

Questions

How do you pronounce tribble?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɹɪbl̩/.
What does tribble mean?: A horizontal frame with wires stretched across it for drying paper.
Where does tribble come from?: Unknown. The Century Dictionary suggests possibly a corruption of cribble (“sieve”).

How to pronounce tribble

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tribble”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtɹɪbl̩/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tribble”.
Repeat and practice — Say “tribble” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.