tribology Syllabification: (tri·bol·o·gy)Pronunciation: /trīˈbäləjē/Definition of tribology noun the study of friction, wear, lubrication, and the design of bearings; the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion. Derivatives tribologicalPronunciation: /-bəˈläjikəl/ adjective tribologistPronunciation: /-jist/ noun tribology in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of tribology in the British & World English dictionary