First Known Use: circa 1762
Dictionary
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
1
: any of various elongate flexible usually tactile or prehensile processes borne by animals and especially invertebrates chiefly on the head or about the mouth
2
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
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Origin of TENTACLE
New Latin tentaculum, from Latin tentare to feel, touch — more at tempt
TENTACLED 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
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