tarantula

noun

ta·​ran·​tu·​la tə-ˈran-chə-lə  -tə-lə 

-ˈranch-lə,

-ˈrant-

plural tarantulas also tarantulae tə-ˈran-chə-ˌlē  -tə-ˌlē 

-ˈranch-ˌlē,

-ˈrant-

1

: any of various large, typically ground-dwelling, hairy, mygalomorph spiders (family Theraphosidae) of warm regions that possess venomous fangs used to subdue and kill prey (such as insects, centipedes, frogs, and mice) caught by ambush or chase and that construct silk-lined burrows but do not build webs to trap food

Note: Tarantulas of the western hemisphere possess barbed, irritating, detachable hairs on the back of the abdomen which may be kicked off as projectiles when the spider is threatened. It is thought that the presence of these defensive hairs may explain the limited aggressiveness of New World tarantulas and the minimal effect (such as redness or swelling) of their venom on humans. Tarantulas of the eastern hemisphere, however, lack these irritating hairs, tend to display greater aggressiveness, and are more likely to inflict painful bites with venom that may sometimes cause severe systemic reactions.

Most spiders bite with a pinching movement, like the grip of human thumb and forefinger. But tarantulas bite straight down, enabling them to take on larger prey.

—Richard Conniff

Bites of U.S. tarantulas are considered medically benign.

—Rick Weiss

compare bird spider, baboon spider

2

: a European wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula) formerly held to be the cause of tarantism

Few folk dances have an origin as memorable as the tarantella from southern Italy, which earned its name from a tale involving the tarantula spider.

—Danielle Poulos

Examples of tarantula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Male tarantulas begin wandering in search of mates during early summer, making encounters more frequent, and will be especially active through July. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 17 June 2025

There’s an apocryphal story among J.R.R. Tolkien fans that the fantasy author’s villainous portrayals of spiders were inspired by a childhood incident when a tarantula bit him. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025

Check out this exclusive clip from the series, in which Dax and the pets team up to rescue a tarantula named Terry, who is stuck on the window of a skyscraper. —Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 31 Mar. 2025

Some species, like tarantulas, can live much longer. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Old Italian tarantola, from Taranto

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

tarantula

noun

ta·​ran·​tu·​la tə-ˈranch-(ə-)lə 

-ˈrant-ᵊl-ə

: any of a family of large hairy American spiders that usually move slowly and have a sharp bite but are not very poisonous to human beings

Medical Definition

tarantula

noun

ta·​ran·​tu·​la tə-ˈranch-(ə-)lə  -ˈrant-ᵊl-ə 

plural tarantulas also tarantulae -ˈran-chə-ˌlē  -ˈrant-ᵊl-ˌē 

1

: any of various large, hairy, typically ground-dwelling spiders (family Theraphosidae) of warm regions that construct silk-lined burrows and that possess a pair of fangs used to inject neurotoxic venom which paralyzes and predigests prey (such as insects or small rodents)

Note: Tarantulas of the western hemisphere possess barbed, detachable, irritating hairs on the back of the abdomen which may be kicked off as projectiles when the spider is threatened. It is thought that the presence of these defensive hairs may explain the limited aggressiveness of New World tarantulas and the minimal effect (such as redness or swelling) of their venom on humans. Tarantulas of the eastern hemisphere, however, lack these irritating hairs, tend to display greater aggressiveness, and are more likely to inflict painful bites with venom that may sometimes cause severe systemic reactions.

2

: a European spider (Lycosa tarantula of the family Lycosidae) popularly held to be the cause of tarantism