ten‧ta‧cle /ˈtentəkəl, ˈtentɪkəl/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: tentaculum, from Latin tentare; ⇒ tempt]

1. one of the long thin parts of a sea creature such as an octopus which it uses for holding things

2. tentacles [plural] the influence or effect that something has on other people or things – used to show disapproval:
The company’s tentacles spread from car manufacturing to railways.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲