Illustration of tadpole
- tadpole in stages
: a larval amphibian
specifically
: a frog or toad larva that has a rounded body with a long tail bordered by fins and external gills soon replaced by internal gills and that undergoes a metamorphosis to the adult
Examples of tadpole in a Sentence
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Dragonfly In the vast majority of tadpole three-wheelers, the rear wheel is the one that's powered.
—
Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2024
From migrating tadpoles to peaceful monkeys to very determined ants, the winning images of the 60th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest display rare wonders of the natural world that many people never get to see.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
The San Diego Union-Tribune 1 of 10 San Diego, CA - May 17: Michelle Thompson, Exequiel Ezcurra Director of Conservation Biology, uses her smart phone to take photos of tadpoles in a pond at Chollas Radio System Open Space in San Diego, CA.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
The ancient tadpole was huge—almost 16 centimeters long—which is slightly bigger than adults of the species that researchers have unearthed (as pictured above in an artist’s reconstruction).
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
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Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2024
From migrating tadpoles to peaceful monkeys to very determined ants, the winning images of the 60th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest display rare wonders of the natural world that many people never get to see.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
The San Diego Union-Tribune 1 of 10 San Diego, CA - May 17: Michelle Thompson, Exequiel Ezcurra Director of Conservation Biology, uses her smart phone to take photos of tadpoles in a pond at Chollas Radio System Open Space in San Diego, CA.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
The ancient tadpole was huge—almost 16 centimeters long—which is slightly bigger than adults of the species that researchers have unearthed (as pictured above in an artist’s reconstruction).
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tadpole
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Cite this Entry
“Tadpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tadpole. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tadpole
noun
tad·pole
ˈtad-ˌpōl 
: the larva of a frog or toad that has a rounded body and a long tail, breathes with gills, and lives in water
called also pollywog
Etymology
Middle English taddepol "tadpole," from tode "toad" and polle "head"
Word Origin
A young tadpole looks like a large head with a tail. In time it will develop back legs and then front legs. Finally it will lose its tail and become a toad or a frog. Our word for this immature form of a toad or frog comes from Middle English taddepol. This word was a combination of two others, tode, meaning "toad," and polle, meaning "head."
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