Meaning

Any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae..

Definitions by Sense

1. Any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.
2. (by extension) A member of certain other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or membership of infraorder Mygalomorphae to which Theraphosidae family also belongs.
3. (dated) A species of wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, native to southern Europe, the mildly poisonous bite of which was once thought to cause an extreme urge to dance (tarantism).

Example Sentences

Cockroaches, centipedes, tarantulas, scorpions, and mosquitoes are abundant in summer. [...] Tarantulas and scorpions are little noticed by those who have been there any length of time.

In the southern portions of the State we have met with specimens of brown tarantula weighing a full Troy ounce, but these were of unusual size. The wood tarantula is the largest of all, occasional specimens weighing an ounce and a half, inhabits dead wood, is very active on a warm day, is found of sunning himself, and is quite courageous, leaping on a large lizard, with a perfect recklessness of consequences. [From the Alta California.]

The other Californian species of notable spiders belonging to the Theraphosidae are: The great tarantula of Southern California, Arizona, and Texas, and the lesser tarantula belonging to the middle of California. The use of the word "tarantula" is rather wide and dubious in application. While the tarantula of the Southern States is of the same family as the true tarantula of Spain—Lycosidæ—the Californian tarantula is of the Theraphosidæ (Mygalidæ). In fact the name carries with it no meaning of value because in each locality the name is bestowed upon the largest hairy spider of the region, irrespective of its classification or habits.

Visitors to Southern Arizona find the privacy of their homes invaded in a delightfully free and easy way by the original settlers of that region, namely the scorpions, centipedes, tarantulas, etc. [...]

Clarabelle is a pinktoe tarantula—one of the very first tarantulas described by Western scientists. The gentle pinktoes were originally tree-dwelling forest tarantulas, but these days they're happy to build their silky retreats in the eaves of houses, in shrubs, and in the tube-like curves of pineapple leaves on plantations, too.

Tarantulas are found in parts of the United States and are frequently sold as pets. Tarantula bites usually do not cause significant envenomations but may cause local tissue swelling. Another hazard of tarantulas is that contact with the hairs of the back, which are released when the tarantula is distressed, can cause local skin reactions as well as a granulomatous reaction of the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye (ophthalmia nodosa) that requires urgent ophthalmologic attention. Dogs or cats that attempt to eat tarantulas may gag or vomit.

The best tarantulas for cooking are the Thai Zebra variety (Haplopelma albostriatum). These are very common in Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, where they are a popular fast food (and one that children love to hunt for). You can go to a Cambodian market and buy live, defanged tarantulas by the dozen from huge wicker baskets, ready to take home and cook.

However, spider enthusiasts sometimes flock to the grassy region in hopes of spotting a tarantula or capturing one to keep as a pet. […] Padilla added that while the tarantulas may give some the creeps, they munch on things that humans often consider pests, including cockroaches, beetles and other insects.

Word Forms

• tarantulas
• tarantulae
• tarentula

Synonyms for tarantula

Related Words

When Should You Use Tarantula?

Use tarantula when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions