tarantula
Definition
- Noun:
- A large, hairy tropical spider: A type of large spider, typically covered in hair, found in tropical and subtropical regions. Its fangs can deliver a painful bite, but its venom is generally not considered highly dangerous to humans.
- A large southern European spider: Historically, this term referred to a wolf spider from Southern Europe. It was once incorrectly believed that its bite caused tarantism, a condition involving hysterical dancing.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The tarantula is a nocturnal hunter. (The large, hairy tropical spider is a nocturnal hunter.)
- In medieval Italy, the bite of a tarantula was thought to cause a dancing mania. (In medieval Italy, the bite of the southern European spider was thought to cause a dancing mania.)
Advanced Usage
- "Tarantula hawk": A type of large wasp that hunts tarantulas.
- The tarantula hawk is a parasitoid that uses the spider as a host for its larvae.
Variants and Related Words
- Tarantism (n): A hysterical condition, historically (and incorrectly) attributed to the bite of the European tarantula, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance.
- Tarantism was a cultural phenomenon in parts of Italy.
Synonyms
- Bird spider: Another common name for some large, hairy spiders, particularly in the family Theraphosidae.
- Wolf spider: For the historical European reference, as the original "tarantula" belongs to the wolf spider family (Lycosidae).
Related Phrases
- "Like a tarantula": Used metaphorically to describe something large, hairy, or perceived as creepy.
- The old, dusty rug in the corner was like a tarantula, making her skin crawl.
Noun
-
large hairy tropical spider with fangs that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites
-
large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
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