tricorder

T1R1I1C3O1R1D2E1R1

noun

A fictional futuristic handheld device used for scanning, which may be specialized for medical, technical, or other purposes.

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Meanings

nountricorder (plural tricorders)

plural tricorders

  1. fictionA fictional futuristic handheld device used for scanning, which may be specialized for medical, technical, or other purposes.

    PLEASE TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND TRICORDERS

    1999-2003, Matt Groening, opening title screen from the start, in Futurama, FOX Television Network
  2. slangA real-world advanced handheld medical scanner.

Origin

The name of such a device in Star Trek, from tri- (referring to its three input keys, which by default cover geological, meteorological, and biological functions) + (re)corder

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 三錄儀 /三录仪
  • 三錄儀 /三录仪 (sānlùyí)handheld device
Cite this entry
APA

tricorder. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tricorder

MLA

“tricorder.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tricorder. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tricorder,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tricorder.

Source: tricorder on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.