Noun: tarantula (tarantulas,tarantulae) tu'ran-chu-lu
- Large hairy tropical spider with fangs that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites
"The tarantula's size and hairy appearance often elicits fear, despite its relatively mild venom"
- Large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
"The tarantula hunted actively on the ground at night";
- European wolf spider, Lycosa tarentula
Derived forms: tarantulae, tarantulas
Type of: hunting spider, spider, wolf spider
Part of: family Theraphosidae, genus Lycosa, Lycosa, Theraphosidae
Encyclopedia: Tarantula