Illustration of tadpole
- tadpole in stages
: 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
Examples of tadpole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The mail-order tadpole that stuck around for almost two decades as an adult frog, cared for but not much cared about.
—
Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Close-up footage of tadpoles in a creek, at just the stage where their tiny back legs are beginning to develop, underscores the fragility of young creatures in an unforgiving environment, and by extension the vulnerability of Max and Kid.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Langmuir showed that the molecules oriented themselves in a consistent way, looking like little tadpoles with the hydrophilic head, the end that likes water, toward the water, and the hydrophobic tail, the end that dislikes water, sticking up into the air.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
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Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Close-up footage of tadpoles in a creek, at just the stage where their tiny back legs are beginning to develop, underscores the fragility of young creatures in an unforgiving environment, and by extension the vulnerability of Max and Kid.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Langmuir showed that the molecules oriented themselves in a consistent way, looking like little tadpoles with the hydrophilic head, the end that likes water, toward the water, and the hydrophobic tail, the end that dislikes water, sticking up into the air.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
Cite this Entry
“Tadpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tadpole. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tadpole
noun
tad·pole
ˈtad-ˌpōl 
: the larva of a frog or toad that has a rounded body and a long tail, breathes with gills, and lives in water
called also pollywog
Etymology
Middle English taddepol "tadpole," from tode "toad" and polle "head"
Word Origin
A young tadpole looks like a large head with a tail. In time it will develop back legs and then front legs. Finally it will lose its tail and become a toad or a frog. Our word for this immature form of a toad or frog comes from Middle English taddepol. This word was a combination of two others, tode, meaning "toad," and polle, meaning "head."
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