tadpole

noun

tad·​pole ˈtad-ˌpōl 

: 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

Illustration of tadpole

• tadpole in stages

Examples of tadpole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the immature stages, or tadpoles, of Cuban treefrogs prey on the tadpoles of native species. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025

Weeks later, the nearly 250 tadpoles were successfully reared into frogs. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

Thirty-five years prior, in 1962, biologist John Gurdon had produced living tadpoles from the adult cells of a frog. —Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2025

Male Darwin’s frogs actually carry tadpoles inside their vocal sacs as a protective act while the larvae metamorphose into froglets. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taddepol, from tode toad + polle head

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tadpole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids 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."