tadpole

noun tad·pole \ˈtad-ˌpōl\

: a small creature that becomes an adult frog or toad, that has a rounded body and a long tail, and that lives in water

Full Definition of TADPOLE

: a larval amphibian; specifically : a frog or toad larva that has a rounded body with a long tail bordered by fins and external gills soon replaced by internal gills and that undergoes a metamorphosis to the adult

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Illustration of TADPOLE

Origin of TADPOLE

Middle English taddepol, from tode toad + polle head

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with TADPOLE

airhole, armhole, atoll, bankroll, beadroll, bedroll, black hole, blackpoll, blowhole, borehole, bunghole, cajole, catchpole, charcoal, chuckhole, condole, console, control, creole, Creole, dipole, drumroll, dry hole, Dutch roll, egg roll, enroll, ensoul, extol, eyehole, field goal, fishbowl, flagpole, foxhole, funk hole, hard coal, half sole, heart-whole, hellhole, Huichol, inscroll, insole, in whole, keyhole, kneehole, knothole, leaf roll, logroll, loophole, manhole, maypole, midsole, Mongol, outsole, parole, patrol, payroll, peephole, pesthole, pinhole, pistole, pitchpole, porthole, posthole, pothole, redpoll, ridgepole, Sheol, shot hole, sinkhole, ski pole, slipsole, snap roll, sotol, sound hole, spring roll, taphole, thumbhole, top-hole, touchhole, unroll, washbowl, weep hole, white hole, wormhole

TADPOLE Defined for Kids

tadpole

noun tad·pole \ˈtad-ˌpōl\

Definition of TADPOLE for Kids

: the larva of a frog or toad that has a long tail, breathes with gills, and lives in water

Word History of TADPOLE

A young tadpole, which looks like a large head with a tail, will in time become a toad or a frog. The English word tadpole comes from a Middle English compound word taddepol, made up from tadde, “toad,” and pol, “head.”

Learn More About TADPOLE

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "tadpole"

Nglish: Translation of "tadpole" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "tadpole" for Arabic speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "tadpole"

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