tadpole

noun tad·pole \ ˈtad-ˌpōl \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 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

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Recent Examples of tadpole from the Web

The tadpoles of western toads squiggle, and water skeeters perform a graceful backwoods ballet.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Battling Scotch broom along Olympic’s Hoh River that threatens fish, forests," 27 May 2018
Near his childhood home in suburban Connecticut, Mr. Stager visits a local lily pond and reflects on dragonflies, damselflies and tadpoles.

— danny heitman, WSJ, "‘Still Waters: The Secret World of Lakes’ Review: Earth’s Many Eyes," 25 May 2018
Mature sea lice are gray, lentil-sized crustaceans, also called ectoparasites, that look like small, fanged tadpoles.

— amanda little, WIRED, "The Laser Battle Against Blood-Sucking Parasites of the Deep," 23 May 2018
This fish, which looks more like a tadpole, lives at the bottom of the Mariana Trench and is the deepest confirmed fish in the sea.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "Meet the top 10 new species of 2018," 23 May 2018
The swire’s snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei) lives in the deepest part of the ocean the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, where this four-inch tadpole-shaped fish appears to be a top predator.

— sarah gray, Fortune, "A 62-Ton Tree and Great Ape Have Made the Top 10 New Species List," 23 May 2018
The wobbly-legged chicks are now learning to eat tadpoles, grasshoppers and dragonflies, and growing at a brisk pace of 10 to 15 percent each day.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Rare whooping cranes hatch at Florida wildlife refuge | Miami Herald," 9 May 2018
The student begins his studies with the life cycle, as expressed in the tadpole.

— leah eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Heart-shaped dessert coeur a la creme a balm to the melancholy," 24 Apr. 2018
The mom, passing the tadpole classroom 13 years on, recalls this notebook.

— leah eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Heart-shaped dessert coeur a la creme a balm to the melancholy," 24 Apr. 2018

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

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.”