tarantula

[ tuh-ran-chuh-luh ]

noun

, plural ta·ran·tu·las, ta·ran·tu·lae [t, uh, -, ran, -ch, uh, -lee].

1. any of several large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae, as Aphonopelma chalcodes, of the southwestern U.S., having a painful but not highly venomous bite.
2. any of various related spiders.
3. a large wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, of southern Europe, having a bite once thought to be the cause of tarantism.

tarantula

/ təˈræntjʊlə /

noun

1. any of various large hairy mostly tropical spiders of the American family Theraphosidae
2. a large hairy spider, Lycosa tarentula of S Europe, the bite of which was formerly thought to cause tarantism

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarantula¹

1555–65; < Medieval Latin < Italian tarantola. See Taranto, -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarantula¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, from Taranto

Example Sentences

It’s the first time in 104 years that anyone has turned up a new genus of tarantula in Asia, the researchers say.

From Science News

Different types of tarantulas have clear differences in the size and shape of those organs.

From Science News For Students

This massive group of tube-like creatures is known for mooching off plants, insects, and humans—but not so much tarantulas.

From Popular-Science

Because the spiders have learned not to eat these species, those lucky frogs have learned that hanging out around tarantulas is safe.

From Popular-Science

“Often a tarantula tries to catch the snake by the head and will hold on in spite of all efforts of the snake to shake him off,” says Nyffeler.

From Science News For Students

The tarantula, like many other members of the spider family, is an expert in the making of burrows.

From Project Gutenberg

The Tarantula is in her own house, with all its conveniences; every nook and corner of the bastion is familiar to her.

From Project Gutenberg

The natives of the island hold the old tradition of the ancients, that one bitten by a tarantula will dance himself to death.

From Project Gutenberg

Have you ever seen, by-the-bye, that extraordinary Highland tarantula called the reel of Tullich?

From Project Gutenberg

The tarantula spider is a relation of the six-footed farmers, you should know, although he is not an insect himself.

From Project Gutenberg