Tarantula meaning

tə-răn'chə-lə
Any of various large hairy spiders chiefly of the family Theraphosidae, capable of inflicting a bite that is painful but usually not dangerous to humans.
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A large wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of southern Europe, once thought to cause tarantism.
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A wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of S Europe, whose bite was popularly but wrongly supposed to cause tarantism.
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Any of numerous large, hairy spiders with a poisonous bite that usually has little effect on warmblooded animals; specif., any of a family (Theraphosidae) found in the SW U.S. and tropical America.
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Any of various large hairy spiders chiefly of the family Theraphosidae, capable of inflicting a bite that is painful but usually not dangerous to humans.
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A large wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of southern Europe, once thought to cause tarantism.
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A species of wolf spider, Lycosa tarentula.
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A "true tarantula", consisting of large, hairy spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.
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A member of several other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or close relation to family Theraphosidae.
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Origin of tarantula

Via Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, named after Taranto, a seaport in southern Italy; from Latin Tarentum, from Ancient Greek Τάρᾱς (Tarās) Tarās; compare Modern Greek: Τάραντας (Tárantas) Tarantas; Tarantino "Tarde;" ultimately from Illyrian darandos, "oak."

Sentence Examples

  • The tarantula spider and the scorpion are found in the south of Italy.

  • Evelyn removed the obstacle from the door and snagged the tarantula cat as it darted past her.

  • After a thick moment of silence, Evelyn rose to place the tarantula cat near the pilot and sealed off the door between the tiny cabin and pilot.

  • Trap-door nests are made by spiders belonging to two widely different groups, namely the Lycosidae or wolf-spiders, to which the true tarantula belongs, and the Mygalomorphae, containing the species which construct the best-known types of this style of burrow.

  • The tarantula cat was sucking up dirt and dust from the kitchen corners.

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Words near tarantula in the Dictionary