ten ‧ ta ‧ cle /ˈtentək ə l, ˈtentɪk ə l/ BrE AmE 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.