tarantula

[tuh-ran-chuh-luh]

noun

plural

tarantulas, tarantulae 

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

"In total, 472 exotic animals have been seized, including leopard tortoises, spurred tortoises, Mediterranean tortoises, iguanas, geckos of different varieties, tarantulas and Nile monitor lizards, among others," said a Civil Guard statement.

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This is the night of the lustful tarantula — and it’s filled with peril.

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If you suffer from arachnophobia, this is the time of year when you’re most likely to run into one of your worst nightmares: a tarantula.

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The South Carolina license plate on the Honda stopped in front of me at a red light, and its silhouette of the state’s signature palm looking regrettably like a tarantula atop a swizzle stick.

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You can see more of her work on Instagram @tarantula_garden and on her website kimgaeta.com.

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