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Definition of tadpole

tadpole

/ˈtæd.poʊl/
tad · pole
Plural:tadpoles
•
Adjective:tadpole-like
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tadpole Lexical Profile

tadpole Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The tailed aquatic larva of an amphibian, such as a frog, toad, or salamander, which breathes through gills and lacks legs until it undergoes metamorphosis into an adult.

Example

"The children gathered by the edge of the shallow pond to watch the tiny tadpoles swimming among the reeds."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tadpole

• Nearby Words

tacutu
tad
tada
tadpole
tadpole fish
taedong
taekwondo

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English taddepol, a compound of tadde ('toad') and pol ('head', as in 'poll'), literally meaning 'a toad that seems to be all head.'

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tadpole. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tadpole
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