tadpole

noun tad·pole \ ˈtad-ˌpōl \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

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

See tadpole defined for English-language learners

See tadpole defined for kids

Recent Examples of tadpole from the Web

The tadpole’s tail is epic in proportion, measuring 280 thousand light-years long—about three times the diameter of our own Milky Way.

— National Geographic, "The Giant Squid Nebula and More Animals of the Cosmos," 20 Mar. 2018
That such defects could be seen so early in the development of the tadpoles was intriguing, said Gil Carvalho, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "Brainless Embryos Suggest Bioelectricity Guides Growth," 18 Mar. 2018
The scientists found that this procedure rescued the brainless tadpoles from most of the usual defects.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "Brainless Embryos Suggest Bioelectricity Guides Growth," 18 Mar. 2018
Cypress Spring, a fenced-in area with a small body of water that will be home to tadpoles, dragonfly larvae, mosquito fish and macroinvertebrates.

— deborah martin, San Antonio Express-News, "S.A. Botanical Garden opening new all-ages play area," 26 Feb. 2018
People have taken all means to try to break these crazy glass tadpoles—from shooting the drops to squashing them in hydraulic presses.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "The 400-Year-Old Mystery of These Bullet-Shattering Glass Drops May Finally Be Solved," 15 May 2017
Hundreds of tadpoles have been put into mountain streams to boost the population in the wild.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Zoo pursues dozens of little-known conservation projects," 17 Sep. 2017
Absorbed in a fragile trance, Allen studies a knot of tadpoles wiggling in a marshy puddle.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 29 July 2017
Their decline began a century ago with the introduction of non-native trout for sport fishing that gobbled up the tadpoles.

— Washington Post, "Inoculations give endangered California frog a shot at life," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tadpole.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of tadpole

Origin and Etymology of tadpole

Middle English taddepol, from tode toad + polle head

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

TADPOLE Defined for English Language Learners

tadpole

noun

Definition of tadpole for English Language Learners

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

TADPOLE Defined for Kids

tadpole

noun tad·pole \ ˈtad-ˌpōl \

Definition of tadpole for Students

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

History for 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.”