tentacle

Everyday

1. A tentacle is a long, bendy arm-like part on some animals, such as octopuses, squids and jellyfish, used for feeling, grabbing, moving or stinging. tree →
2. (figurative) The «tentacles» of something are the ways it reaches into many places: «the tentacles of the gang». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons tentacles come up in sea habitats and adaptations: jellyfish and sea anemones sting prey with their tentacles; an octopus has eight arms with suckers (scientists call octopus limbs «arms» and squid have two longer «tentacles»). In safety lessons at the beach, pupils learn not to touch jellyfish, even dead ones, because the tentacles can still sting.

Examples

• The jellyfish trailed long, stinging tentacles. tree →
• The octopus wrapped its arms around the crab. tree →
• A squid catches food with its two long tentacles. tree →
• Sea anemones wave their tentacles to catch tiny fish. tree →
• Do not touch a jellyfish on the beach — its tentacles can still sting. tree →
• Snails have tentacles on their heads with eyes at the tips. tree →
• The monster in the story reached out with slimy tentacles. tree →

Note

Plural «tentacles». Spelling: «-acle», like «miracle». Trap: scientists say an octopus has eight arms, not tentacles; squids have eight arms plus two tentacles. In everyday talk people call all of them tentacles.