# tadpole

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtædpoʊl/ · frequency rank #52,665

## Definitions
1. A young toad or frog in its larval stage of development that lives in water, has a tail and no legs, and, like a fish, breathes through gills.
2. The aquatic larva of any amphibian.
3. A type of cargo bike that has two wheels in front and one in back.
4. A child's basic drawing of a human being, having a detailed head but only sticks for the body and limbs.
5. A small child.
6. An insignificant person.

## Etymology
From Middle English tadpolle, taddepol, equivalent to toad + poll (“head”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tadpole