noun
tadpole
TAD-pohl
noun
1
The tailed, legless larval stage of a frog or toad that lives in water and breathes through gills.
"The children scooped tadpoles from the pond into a jar."
How to Use Tadpole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baby frog or toad, before it grows legs and loses its tail.
Common pairings
tadpoles in a pond
turn into a frog
Word Forms
tadpoles plural
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Etymology
From Middle English tadpolle, combining "toad" and "poll" (meaning "head") — a reference to the creature's large-headed, tailed shape.