tentacle Hear it!

tentacle definition

ten·ta·cle (ten′tə kəl)

noun

  1. any of a variety of long, slender, flexible growths, as about the head or mouth of some invertebrate animals, used variously for grasping, feeling, moving, etc.
  2. Bot. any of various sensitive hairs on the leaves of some plants, as those used in capturing insects

Etymology: ModL tentaculum < L tentare, to touch: see tent

Related Forms:

  • tentacled ten′·ta·cled adjective
  • tentacular ten·tac′u·lar (ten tak′yo̵̅o̅ lər) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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