tentacle

American  

[ten-tuh-kuhl] / ˈtɛn tə kəl /

noun

1. Zoology. any of various slender, flexible processes or appendages in animals, especially invertebrates, that serve as organs of touch, prehension, etc.; feeler.

2. Botany. a sensitive filament or process, as one of the glandular hairs of the sundew.

---

tentacle British  

/ tɛnˈtækjʊlə, tɛnˈtækjʊˌlɔɪd, ˈtɛntəkəl /

noun

1. any of various elongated flexible organs that occur near the mouth in many invertebrates and are used for feeding, grasping, etc

2. any of the hairs on the leaf of an insectivorous plant that are used to capture prey

3. something resembling a tentacle, esp in its ability to reach out or grasp

---

tentacle Scientific  

/ tĕn′tə-kəl /

1. A narrow, flexible, unjointed part extending from the body of certain animals, such as an octopus, jellyfish, or sea anemone. Tentacles are used for feeling, grasping, or moving.

---

Other Word Forms

• intertentacular adjective
• subtentacular adjective
• tentacle-like adjective
• tentacled adjective
• tentaclelike adjective
• tentacular adjective
• tentaculoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of tentacle

1755–65; < New Latin tentāculum, equivalent to Latin tentā ( re ) (variant of temptāre to feel, probe) + -culum -cule ²

Example Sentences

“We have been lacerated by the tentacles of corruption and by criminal networks that have profoundly marked the life of our country,” Zelaya wrote on X on Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although he stepped down as Oracle’s CEO in 2014, he remains its executive chairman and chief technology officer — and continues to be deeply involved in the company and its growing tentacles.

From Los Angeles Times

However, we couldn't get out until after the next high tide when only sections of the tentacles could be found.

From BBC

Some claim he has tentacles emerging from his back, and most say he wears dark clothes and has a pale face.

From BBC

AIG is one of the world’s largest insurers, with tentacles in close to 200 countries and more than 25,000 employees.

From The Wall Street Journal