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Definition of Tarantula
1. Noun. Large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement).
Generic synonyms: Hunting Spider, Wolf Spider
Group relationships: Genus Lycosa, Lycosa
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.
Lexicographical Neighbors of Tarantula
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 ..."