ˌtrībəˈnēmə, ˌtrib- noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek tribos action of rubbing (from tribein to rub) + New Latin -nema
: a genus (the type of the family Tribonemaceae of the order Heterotrichales) of simple filamentous freshwater yellow-green algae having asexual spores formed within the cells and freed by the breaking of the filaments into H-shaped pieces — see conferva