noun
tentacle
TEHN-tuh-kuhl
noun
1
A long, flexible, limb-like organ used for grasping or feeling, found on animals like octopuses and squid.
"The octopus wrapped a tentacle around the jar to open it."
2
A far-reaching branch of influence or control, especially of something sinister.
"The cartel's tentacles reached into the local police force."
How to Use Tentacle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sea-creature's grasping limb, or figuratively, a spreading reach of influence.
Common pairings
reach its tentacles
a tentacle of
Word Forms
tentacled past tense, tentacles plural, tentacles singular
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Etymology
From New Latin tentaculum, from Latin tentare ("to feel, try").