Lexic.us

Definition of Tarantula

1. Noun. Large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement).

2. Noun. Large hairy tropical spider with fangs that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites.

Definition of Tarantula

1. n. Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species (Tarantula apuliæ). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale.

Definition of Tarantula

1. Noun. A species of wolf spider, ''Lycosa tarentula''. ¹

2. Noun. A "true tarantula", consisting of large, hairy spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae. ¹

3. Noun. A member of several other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or close relation to family Theraphosidae. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tarantula

1. [n -LAE or -LAS]

Medical Definition of Tarantula

1. Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species (Tarantula apuliae). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale. Alternative forms: tarentula Tarantula killer, a very large wasp (Pompilus formosus), which captures the Texan tarantula (Mygale Hentzii) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting. Origin: NL, fr. It. Tarantola, fr. L. Tarentum, now Taranto, in the south of Italy. (26 Nov 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tarantula

taranakite tarand tarands taranis tarantas tarantases tarantella tarantellas tarantelle tarantism

tarantisms tarantist tarantists tarantula (current term) tarantulae tarantulas tarantulated tarapacaite taras tarasque

tarasques taratantara taraxacin taraxacum tarbabies tarbaby tarbagan tarbagans

Literary usage of Tarantula

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1891)
"Cf. tarantula.] 1. A rapid, whirling dance for one couple, originating in southern Italy and specially common in the sixteenth century, ..."

2. Roughing It by Mark Twain (2001)
"In- IHE tarantula. deed tney would take up a straw and pick their teeth ... Nobody tried, any longer, to leave the room, lest he might step on a tarantula. ..."

3. The English Illustrated Magazine (1898)
"I wonder, too," he added sweetly, " how a nice fat tarantula tastes. It must be good." The nervous female hopped off beyond the snake's striking-distance at ..."

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