Tentacle

Definitions

1. An elongated, boneless, flexible organ or limb of some animals, such as the octopus and squid.
2. One of the glandular hairs on the leaves of certain insectivorous plants.
3. An insidious reach or influence.
   figuratively
4. Something like a zoological limb.
   figuratively
5. An officer employed to drive out to troops and transmit back requests for support via a special radio link.
   UK, historical

Equivalents

35 more languages

العربيةاللامسةلامسمجس

Bosanskikrakmačka

Catalàtentacle

Češtinachapadlochapadlový

Ελληνικάπλοκάμι

Suomilonkero

Gaeilgeadharcán

Galegoraxotentáculo

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻiʻawe

עבריתזרוע

Hrvatskikrakmačka

Magyarcsap

Հայերենշոշափուկ

Bahasa Indonesiatentakel

Italianotentacolo

日本語触手

ქართულისაცეცი

한국어촉수

Kurdîkawe

Latinaflagellum

Te Reo Māorikāwaikawe

Македонскипипало

Nederlandstentakel

Polskimacka

Portuguêstentáculo

Românătentacul

Русскийщупальце

Slovenčinachápadlo

Slovenščinalovka

Српскиkrakmačka

Svenskatentakel

Tagaloggalamay

Türkçedokunaç

Українськащупальце

Tiếng Việtxúc tu

Examples

“With one blow⟳ of the axe, Captain Nemo cut⟳ this formidable tentacle, that slid wriggling down the ladder.”

“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.”

“the tentacles of the criminal underworld”

“New extensions into the outer London dormitory areas also have⟳ been constructed, and at the present⟳ moment the tentacles of London's Underground are slowly but surely extending eastwards into Essex to relieve congestion on the suburban lines of the former Great Eastern Railway.”

“A joint RAF/Army staffed Air Support⟳ Control⟳ (ASC) headquarters was established at each army corps and each armoured division, linked to the forward⟳ brigades by a 'tentacle' equipped with two-way wireless telegraphy.”

CEFR level