A tripod is a portable three-legged frame or stand, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The three-legged design provides good stability against gravitational loads as well as horizontal shear forces, and better leverage for resisting tipping over due to lateral forces can be achieved by spreading the legs away from the vertical centre.
Variations with one, two, and four legs are termed monopod, bipod, and quadripod.
A ding (Chinese ceremonial cauldron) from late Shang Dynasty.
Seabees train with the M240B mounted on the M122 tripod.
A photographic tripod
Laboratory tripod
A monopod, also called a unipod, is a single staff or pole used to help support cameras, binoculars, rifles or other precision instruments in the field.
Camera and telephoto lens mounted on monopod
A Sako TRG sniper rifle on its standard factory monopod under the butt and its bipod.