tentacle

[ ten-tuh-kuhl ]

noun

1. Zoology. any of various slender, flexible processes or appendages in animals, especially invertebrates, that serve as organs of touch, prehension, etc.; feeler.
2. Botany. a sensitive filament or process, as one of the glandular hairs of the sundew.

tentacle

/ tɛnˈtækjʊlə; tɛnˈtækjʊˌlɔɪd; ˈtɛntəkəl /

noun

1. any of various elongated flexible organs that occur near the mouth in many invertebrates and are used for feeding, grasping, etc
2. any of the hairs on the leaf of an insectivorous plant that are used to capture prey
3. something resembling a tentacle, esp in its ability to reach out or grasp

tentacle

/ tĕn′tə-kəl /

1. A narrow, flexible, unjointed part extending from the body of certain animals, such as an octopus, jellyfish, or sea anemone. Tentacles are used for feeling, grasping, or moving.

Derived Forms

• ˈtentacle-ˌlike, adjective
• tentacular, adjective
• ˈtentacled, adjective

Other Words From

• ten·tac·u·lar [ten-, tak, -y, uh, -ler], adjective
• tenta·cle·like ten·tacu·loid adjective
• inter·ten·tacu·lar adjective
• subten·tacu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentacle¹

1755–65; < New Latin tentāculum, equivalent to Latin tentā ( re ) (variant of temptāre to feel, probe) + -culum -cule ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentacle¹

C18: from New Latin tentāculum, from Latin tentāre, variant of temptāre to feel

Example Sentences

Al Fayed “had access to vulnerable young women from that school”, she said, adding that testimony she had heard suggested that Al Fayed’s “tentacles went far and wide”.

From BBC

Her work includes creating a removable extra thumb and a tentacle arm.

From BBC

Just like how our marine friend can pretend to be a starfish, eventually it will move its tentacles and reveal its true nature.

From Salon

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's counter-terrorism command, said: "ALM's tentacles have spread across the world and have had a massive impact on public safety and security."

From BBC

Phillip asked nervously, looking a bit green himself as more and more shoots twisted and wrapped themselves around the larger vine, moving like the grotesque tentacles of some foul squid.

From Literature