[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

tarantula \taran"tula\, n.; pl. e. tarantulas, l.
   tarantulae. nl., fr. it. tarantola, fr. l. tarentum, now
   taranto, in the south of italy. zool.
   any one of several species of large spiders, popularly
   supposed to be very venomous, especially the european species
   tarantula apuliae. the tarantulas of texas and adjacent
   countries are large species of mygale. written also
   tarentula.
   1913 webster

   tarantula killer, a very large wasp pompilus formosus,
      which captures the texan tarantula mygale hentzii and
      places it in its nest as food for its young, after
      paralyzing it by a sting.
      1913 webster
see also:
tarantulas tarantulae tarantula apuliae tarentula tarantula killer pompilus formosus 
mygale hentzii 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

tarantula
     n 1: large southern european spider once thought to be the cause
          of tarantism uncontrollable bodily movement syn: european
          wolf spider, lycosa tarentula
     2: large hairy tropical spider that can inflict painful but not
        highly venomous bites
     also: tarantulae pl
see also:
european wolf spider lycosa tarentula tarantulae 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

tarantulae
     see tarantula
see also:
tarantula 

Tarantulae >> T Words
Tarantulae, definition of term: Tarantulae
tarantulae_pag1.html