cephalopod

[ sef-uh-luh-pod ]

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Cephalopoda, having tentacles attached to the head, including the cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.

adjective

1. Also cepha·lo·podic, ceph·a·lop·o·dous [] belonging or pertaining to the Cephalopoda.

cephalopod

/ ˈsɛfələˌpɒd /

noun

1. any marine mollusc of the class Cephalopoda , characterized by well-developed head and eyes and a ring of sucker-bearing tentacles. The group also includes the octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and pearly nautilus

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Cephalopoda

cephalopod

/ sĕf′ə-lə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of various marine mollusks of the class Cephalopoda, having long tentacles around the mouth, a large head, a pair of large eyes, and a sharp beak. Cephalopods have the most highly developed nervous system of all invertebrates. Many cephalopods squirt a cloud of dark inky liquid to confuse predators. Cephalopods include the octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus, and the extinct ammonites, belemnites, and other nautiloids.

Derived Forms

• ˌcephaˈlopodan, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cephalopod¹

1820–30; < New Latin Cephalopoda; cephalo-, -pod

Example Sentences

These little suckers aren’t the tentacles of one benign cephalopod, but rather many separate lamprey.

From Popular-Science

Another way of approaching the question is by considering cephalopods, especially octopuses.

From MIT Technology Review

Since then, the myriad forms of vertebrate life—fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals among them—have developed their own kinds of mind along one branch, while cephalopods developed another.

From MIT Technology Review

Despite the name, this animal isn’t technically a squid, but rather a cephalopod.

From Nautilus

Just 29 hours after being hatched, the cephalopods were blasted into space, tucked away in small “aquarium bags.”

From Popular-Science

Ramshorn, ramz′horn, n. a semicircular work of low profile in the ditch of a fortified place: an ammonite: a fossil cephalopod.

From Project Gutenberg

It has been regarded as a plant, and as a cephalopod shell; but I believe it was a coral allied to Cystiphyllum.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Dean thinks this more likely to be part of the axis of a cephalopod shell.

From Project Gutenberg

On the crab being devoured by the right species of Cephalopod, the merozoites doubtless give rise to the sexual generation again.

From Project Gutenberg

Forerunners of the great ammonite family of cephalopod mollusks now appear.

From Project Gutenberg