Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun tarantula

2 senses of tarantula

Sense 1
European wolf spider, tarantula, Lycosa tarentula -- (large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement))
       => wolf spider, hunting spider -- (ground spider that hunts its prey instead of using a web)

Sense 2
tarantula -- (large hairy tropical spider with fangs that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites)
       => spider -- (predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey)