tentacle (tentakl)

[F. tentacule = Sp. tentáculo, organ of the exploration, prehension, and sometimes locomotion; a feeler; a tentaculum. The name covers a great variety of organs having little or no structural relationship, as horns, antennæ, proboscides, rays, and arms. Specifically-( a ) One of the barbs, barbels, or other tactile organs about the mouth or head of a fish. (6) One of the arms of a cephalopod. (c) A kind of proboscis of many worms. (d) arms or rays of a crinoid. (e) One of the cirrous legs of a cir riped. (f) One of the long horns, antennæ, or feelers of some crustaceans, as lobsters. (g) The antenna of many insects, especially when long and slender, as in a cricket or cockroach. (h) One of the maxillary palps of various insects. (1) Any slender fleshy proce on the back of an insect-larva; especially, a tubular proce on the back of certain lepidopterous larvæ, near the head, or at the other end, from which a slender thread or ill-smelling scent-organ can be thrust for the purpose, it is supposed, of repelling ichneumons and other enemies. See osmeterium. (1) One of the soft horns of various mollusks, as snails. (k) The calcar or siphon of a rotifer. (1) In Actinozoa, one of the soft hollow of the body-wall communi Having a tentacle or tentacles; tentacula ted; tentaculiferous.-2. Tentaculiform; tentacular: a le careful usage: as, tentaculate proce es.-3. Of or pertaining to the Tentacu lat a: as, crinoids are tentaculate echinoderms. tentacula ted (ten-tak'ū-lā-ted), a. [ Lankester .