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Glite Dictionary
tribble

tribble

6 9.9
A small furry imaginary animal from Star Trek that multiplies quickly
  • noun
  • /ˈtrɪbəl/
: tribble
  • As soon as a tribble is fed, it starts reproducing at an astonishing rate.
  • tribbles are breeding

Examples

  • Well, don't look at me, it's the tribbles who are breeding.

    Fubar (2002)

  • The crew struggled to manage the rapidly multiplying tribbles on the space station.

  • Pick up every tribble on the space station.

    Fubar (2002)

  • Do you know what you get if you feed a tribble too much?

    Fubar (2002)

  • Can I interest you in a harmless little tribble?

    Fubar (2002)

  • Ah, friend, can I offer you a charming little tribble?

    Fubar (2002)

  • And get these tribbles off the Bridge.

    Fubar (2002)

  • Hey, you know, I think I could learn to like tribbles.

    Fubar (2002)

  • Lieutenant Uhura, how did all these tribbles get on the Bridge?

    Fubar (2002)

  • Bones, I want the tribbles, the grain, everything analyzed.

    Fubar (2002)

Surface Forms

tribble singular
tribbles plural

Etymology

The word tribble was invented for Star Trek as a name for a 'small, furry creature' that multiplies quickly. A helpful way to remember it is that tribble sounds like trouble, because these creatures often 'cause problems' by filling a ship.