tarantula
noun
-tə-lə
Note: Tarantulas of the western hemisphere possess barbed, irritating, detachable hairs on the back of the abdomen which may be kicked off as projectiles when the spider is threatened. It is thought that the presence of these defensive hairs may explain the limited aggressiveness of New World tarantulas and the minimal effect (such as redness or swelling) of their venom on humans. Tarantulas of the eastern hemisphere, however, lack these irritating hairs, tend to display greater aggressiveness, and are more likely to inflict painful bites with venom that may sometimes cause severe systemic reactions.
Richard ConniffRick WeissDanielle PoulosExamples of tarantula in a Sentence
Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2024
Brown recluse Northern black widow Wolf spider Fishing spider
Jumping spider
Wolf spider
Wolf spiders are usually confused with tarantulas and brown recluse spiders.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 14 June 2024
Longtime friends remembered Lopez as a lovable computer game nerd and father of two who enjoyed building computers and had a menagerie of pets, including a snake, lizard, tarantula and a dog named Venom.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
So happy vernal equinox — is that a tarantula? — to all who celebrate.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
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“Tarantula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarantula. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tarantula
noun
Medical Definition
tarantula
noun
-ˈrant-ᵊl-ə
-ˈrant-ᵊl-ˌē
Note: Tarantulas of the western hemisphere possess barbed, detachable, irritating hairs on the back of the abdomen which may be kicked off as projectiles when the spider is threatened. It is thought that the presence of these defensive hairs may explain the limited aggressiveness of New World tarantulas and the minimal effect (such as redness or swelling) of their venom on humans. Tarantulas of the eastern hemisphere, however, lack these irritating hairs, tend to display greater aggressiveness, and are more likely to inflict painful bites with venom that may sometimes cause severe systemic reactions.
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