cephalopod
any mollusk of the class Cephalopoda, having tentacles attached to the head, including the cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.
Also ceph·a·lo·pod·ic, ceph·a·lop·o·dous [sef-uh-lop-uh-duhs]. /ˌsɛf əˈlɒp ə dəs/. belonging or pertaining to the Cephalopoda.
Origin of cephalopod
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for cephalopod
/ (ˈsɛfələˌpɒd) /
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
of, relating to, or belonging to the Cephalopoda
Derived forms of cephalopod
- cephalopodan, adjective, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for cephalopod
[ sĕf′ə-lə-pŏd′ ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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