tadpole

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noun tad·pole \ ˈtad-ˌpōl \

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

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Recent Examples of tadpole from the Web

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
Altadena father Gerard Shadrick visits the Gabrielino Trail with 9-year-old daughter Talulah, who likes to catch tadpoles in nearby creeks.

— sara cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, "Trail users cite safety, hygiene concerns with transient squatters at Gould Mesa campground," 9 Aug. 2017
Read more: Those tadpoles will join the more than 47,000 previously produced at the zoo in its decade-old and award-winning National Amphibian Conservation Center.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Zoo sending 5,600 tadpoles to permanent vacation in Puerto Rico," 12 July 2017
Everything about the free event, from face painting to the tadpole dip with instructions on how to grow a frog, is intended to encourage community, to serve as a real country social.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Jump into Buncom ghost town's ragtag Memorial Day Weekend parade (photos)," 21 May 2017
Families can explore the four-acre Children's Garden and stop at Wonder Pond to look for the tadpoles that hatch there every spring.

— nancy coltun webster, Post-Tribune, "Garden hopping: Go where spring's in bloom," 11 May 2017
There will be reduced admission plus activities for kids and parents, including a tram ride and craft project, ground cover garden walk, chance to answer tree-via questions, hands-on tadpole and toad activity, and more.

— myrna petlicki, chicagotribune.com, "TWS teen actors present 'She Kills Monsters'," 4 May 2017
There are eggs in a nest, frogs, a tadpole, deer and lambs and a whole woodchuck family.

— mary ann grossmann, Twin Cities, "New crop of children’s books celebrates spring in colorful ways," 2 Apr. 2017
In close encounters of the bitey kind, cannibal tadpoles release siblings unharmed and consume non-relatives.

— bill schutt, Discover Magazine, "The Case for Cannibalism," 29 Mar. 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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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TADPOLE Defined for English Language Learners

tadpole

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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

play

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.”

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See words that rhyme with tadpole Spanish Central: Translation of tadpole Nglish: Translation of tadpole for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tadpole for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tadpole

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