tentacle

noun ten·ta·cle \ˈten-ti-kəl\

: one of the long, flexible arms of an animal (such as an octopus) that are used for grabbing things and moving

tentacles : power or influence that reaches into many areas

Full Definition of TENTACLE

: any of various elongate flexible usually tactile or prehensile processes borne by animals and especially invertebrates chiefly on the head or about the mouth

a : something that resembles a tentacle especially in or as if in grasping or feeling out <corruption spreading its tentacles>

b : a sensitive hair or emergence on a plant (as the sundew)

— ten·ta·cled \-kəld\ adjective

See tentacle defined for English-language learners

See tentacle defined for kids

Origin of TENTACLE

New Latin tentaculum, from Latin tentare to feel, touch — more at tempt

First Known Use: circa 1762

Rhymes with TENTACLE

denticle, pentacle

TENTACLE Defined for Kids

tentacle

noun ten·ta·cle \ˈten-tə-kəl\

Definition of TENTACLE for Kids

: one of the long thin flexible parts that stick out around the head or the mouth of an animal (as a jellyfish or sea anemone) and are used especially for feeling or grasping

Medical Dictionary

tentacle

noun ten·ta·cle \ˈtent-i-kəl\

Medical Definition of TENTACLE

: any of various elongate flexible usually tactile or prehensile processes borne by animals chiefly on the head or about the mouth; especially : one of the threadlike processes bearing nematocysts that hang down from the margin of the umbrella of many jellyfishes