noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈtɛntəkəl/
/ˈtɛntɪkəl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:T EH1 N T AH0 K AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An elongated, boneless, flexible organ or limb of some animals, such as the octopus and squid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
Examples
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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
One of the glandular hairs on the leaves of certain insectivorous plants.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An insidious reach or influence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
the tentacles of the criminal underworld
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something like a zoological limb.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
An officer employed to drive out to troops and transmit back requests for support via a special radio link.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, historical
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To move like a tentacle
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
any of various elongated tactile or prehensile flexible organs that occur on the head or near the mouth in many animals; used for feeling or grasping or locomotion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: process, outgrowth, appendage
Narrower terms: antenna, feeler, barbel
8
noun
Meaning 8
something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
caught in the tentacles of organized crime
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: grip, grasp
History
Etymology
From New Latin tentāculum, from tentō. Doublet of tentaculum.
Across languages
Translations
74 source translations are retained for this English entry.
