tarantula
noun
ta路ran路tu路la
| \ t蓹-藞ran-ch蓹-l蓹
, -t蓹-l蓹; -藞ranch-l蓹, -藞rant-\
, -t蓹-l蓹; -藞ranch-l蓹, -藞rant-\
plural tarantulas
also tarantulae\ t蓹-藞ran-ch蓹-藢l膿
, -t蓹-藢l膿 ; -藞ranch-藢l膿 , -藞rant- \
, -t蓹-藢l膿 ; -藞ranch-藢l膿 , -藞rant- \
Definition of tarantula
1
: a European wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism
2
: any of various large, hairy, American spiders (family Theraphosidae) that are typically rather sluggish and capable of biting sharply though most forms are not significantly poisonous to humans
Examples of tarantula in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Every year, a mass migration of tarantulas shows up in southeast Colorado, according to the Gazette. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Mass tarantula migration expected to crawl through Colorado starting this month," 8 Aug. 2019 Officials say tarantulas are mostly harmless to humans but have bites that can cause injury or allergic reaction and hairs that can be irritating to the eyes, mouth and nose. — USA TODAY, "Smokey Bear, tarantula trek, censoring Adam and Eve: News from around our 50 states," 9 Aug. 2019 Late in the day, male tarantulas emerge and begin looking for a receptive female. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Milkweed offers great learning activity for kids," 10 Aug. 2019 Officials say the Oklahoma brown tarantulas migrate through La Junta, about 176 miles southeast of Denver. — USA TODAY, "Smokey Bear, tarantula trek, censoring Adam and Eve: News from around our 50 states," 9 Aug. 2019 Fear, anxiety, and disgust have the same broad purpose of trying to get us away from things our bodies think could hurt us, whether that鈥檚 a tarantula or someone鈥檚 weeping skin rash. — Natasha Lavender, SELF, "Is Trypophobia Really a Fear of Holes or Something Else Entirely?," 26 July 2019 Paulk, whose previous pets included a raccoon and a tarantula, took the small creature home. — Author: Antonia Noori Farzan, Anchorage Daily News, "Police called it a meth-fueled attack squirrel. An Alabama fugitive says it鈥檚 his beloved pet.," 21 June 2019 Adventurous eaters may even be tempted to try their taste buds on more exotic offerings like giant water bugs, black soldier fly larvae or tarantulas. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Cricket chips? Ant caviar? O.C. Fair showcases the latest sustainable healthy food trend: Bugs," 31 July 2019 The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden recently obtained baby beetles and tarantulas that were brought into the country illegally. — Rachel Berry, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Zoo provides a new home for smuggled beetles and tarantulas," 3 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tarantula.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tarantula
tarantula
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tarantula
: a large, hairy spider that lives in warm regions
See the full definition for tarantula in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tarantula
noun
ta路ran路tu路la
| \ t蓹-藞ran-ch蓹-l蓹
\
\
Kids Definition of tarantula
: a large hairy spider of warm regions of North and South America whose bite may be painful but is usually not serious to humans except for a few South American species
tarantula
noun
ta路ran路tu路la
| \ t蓹-藞ranch-(蓹-)l蓹
, -藞rant-岬妉-蓹
\
, -藞rant-岬妉-蓹
\
plural tarantulas
also tarantulae\ -藞ran-ch蓹-藢l膿
, -藞rant-岬妉-藢膿
\
, -藞rant-岬妉-藢膿
\
Medical Definition of tarantula
1
: a European spider (Lycosa tarentula of the family Lycosidae) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism
2
: any of a family (Theraphosidae) of large hairy American spiders that are typically rather sluggish and capable of biting sharply though most forms are not significantly poisonous to humans
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