tarantula

noun ta·ran·tu·la \tə-ˈran-chə-lə, -tə-lə; -ˈranch-lə, -ˈrant-\

: a large, hairy spider that lives in warm regions

plural ta·ran·tu·las also ta·ran·tu·lae \-ˌlē\

Full Definition of TARANTULA

: a European wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism

: any of a family (Theraphosidae) of large hairy American spiders that are typically rather sluggish and capable of biting sharply though most forms are not significantly poisonous to humans

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Origin of TARANTULA

Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, from Taranto

First Known Use: 1561

TARANTULAS Defined for Kids

tarantula

noun ta·ran·tu·la \tə-ˈran-chə-lə\

Definition of TARANTULA for Kids

: a large hairy spider of warm regions of North and South America whose bite may be painful but is usually not serious to humans except for a few South American species

Medical Dictionary

tarantula

noun ta·ran·tu·la \tə-ˈranch-(ə-)lə, -ˈrant-^əl-ə\

plural ta·ran·tu·las also ta·ran·tu·lae \-ˈran-chə-ˌlē, -ˈrant-^əl-ˌē\

Medical Definition of TARANTULA

: a European spider (Lycosa tarentula of the family Lycosidae) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism

: any of a family (Theraphosidae) of large hairy American spiders that are typically rather sluggish and capable of biting sharply though most forms are not significantly poisonous to humans