1. the larval stage of a frog or toad, having a tail and gills and living in water

Examples

• The children watched tadpoles swimming in the pond.
• A tadpole gradually develops legs and loses its tail as it becomes a frog.
• We collected tadpoles from the stream to observe their metamorphosis.
• The tadpole’s gills allow it to breathe underwater.
• After several weeks, the tadpole began to grow tiny front legs.
• Tadpoles feed on algae and small plants in the water.