tarantula

American  

[tuh-ran-chuh-luh] / təˈræn tʃə lə /

noun

• tarantulas,
  plural
• tarantulae
  plural

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.

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tarantula British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tarantulae
  plural
• tarantulas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tarantula

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

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Compare meaning

How does tarantula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• wolf spider vs. tarantula

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Explanation

A tarantula is a hairy, poisonous, black spider. Although they are furry and some people keep them as pets, you probably don't want to cuddle up to one. Tarantulas are found primarily in subtropical South America. Their leg spans can range from three to twelve inches, which means that a very big tarantula is about as wide as a cowboy hat! While their bites are poisonous, you won't die from tarantula venom, unless the bite gets infected.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tarantula tarantulas

Cronus was roughly 11 years old when he died, which is around the average life span of a male tarantula, according to experts at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Sir Gavin Williamson has said his pet tarantula, who once lived on his desk in the Houses of Parliament and Ministry of Defence, has died.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Researchers have identified four previously unknown tarantula species in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, and they turned out to be far more unusual than expected.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 6, 2026

When I opened up the cover, it was a dead tarantula.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

“More tarantula stuff,” I mumbled, studying the cover.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

I’m a Texan, so I’ve been around tarantulas my whole life, I knew what it was.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

In particular, he said he saw spiders like tarantulas “as a newer pet trend in the United States.”

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 11, 2026

That included live snakes, tarantulas and lovebirds found hidden in vehicles stopped at the UK border.

From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2025

Trapdoor spiders are small, secretive relatives of tarantulas.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2025

Each morning they shook tarantulas and scorpions from their boots and tied handkerchiefs over their mouths in a hopeless effort to keep out the flying sand.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

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