Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Tentacle

Ten′ta-cle

,
Noun.
[NL.
tentaculum
, from L.
tentare
to handle, feel: cf. F.
tentacule
. See
Tempt
.]
(Zool.)
A more or less elongated process or organ, simple or branched, proceeding from the head or cephalic region of invertebrate animals, being either an organ of sense, prehension, or motion.
Tentacle sheath
(Zool.)
,
a sheathlike structure around the base of the tentacles of many mollusks.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tentacle

TEN'TACLE

,
Noun.
[L. tentacula.] A filiform process or organ, simple or branched, on the bodies of various animals of the Linnean class Vermes, and of Cuvier's Mollusca, Annelides, Echinodermata, Actinia, Medusae, Polypi, &c. either an organ of feeling, prehension or motion, sometimes round the mouth, sometimes on other parts of the body.

Definition 2024

tentacle

tentacle

English

Noun

tentacle ‎(plural tentacles)

  1. An elongated, boneless, flexible organ or limb of some animals, such as the octopus and squid.
    • 1873, Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
      With one blow of the axe, Captain Nemo cut this formidable tentacle, that slid wriggling down the ladder.
    • 1897, H. G. Wells, The Crystal Egg
      The body was small, but fitted with two bunches of prehensile organs, like long tentacles, immediately under the mouth.
    • 1936, H. P. Lovecraft, The Shadow Out of Time
      Surmounting this head were four slender grey stalks bearing flower-like appendages, whilst from its nether side dangled eight greenish antennae or tentacles.

Derived terms

Translations

Catalan

Noun

tentacle m ‎(plural tentacles)

  1. tentacle

Etymology

From New Latin tentaculum, from tentō.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɛntəkəl/, /ˈtɛntɨkəl/

Similar Results