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

As the weather begins to cool and the season for spooky decorations approaches, brown tarantula mating season is also upon us. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023

That is: 20 snakes, lizards, tarantulas and a crocodile. —Ariana Garcia, Chron, 9 Mar. 2023

And some people are allergic to tarantula venom, which can make the bite even more inflamed, according to the National Institutes of Medicine. —Emilia Benton, Women's Health, 30 June 2023

Aaron Goodwin, assistant zoological manager at the Dallas Zoo, said the tarantula most likely to be seen is the Texas brown tarantula, which is the most common species in Texas and other states in the South. —Sonia Rao, Dallas News, 7 June 2023

Later on, the actor recalled filming the movie Rough Magic (1995) with Bridget Fonda in 1994 and having to shoot a scene where a tarantula, bigger than his hand, crawled up his naked body and into his mouth, before being snatched away by a spider handler. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 June 2023

Fruit bats, sugar gliders, a hedgehog, rat, bearded dragon, geckos, snakes, tarantulas and other animals will be the stars of an outdoor show from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Rakow Branch. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2023

Empty-nesters Flora Haug, 56, and husband Jeff, 55, have eight children who have left behind much of their childhood stuff: pandas, tiaras, prom dresses, technology, even a dead pet tarantula. —Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023

Not only will the house be decked out in the famous film's instantly recognizable yuletide aesthetic, the lucky group can get to work setting booby traps of their own and braving a meet and greet with a real-life tarantula named Axl, inspired by Buzz's pet in the films. —Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 1 Dec. 2021

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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