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nautilus

[nawt-l-uhs, not-]

noun

plural

nautiluses, nautili 
  1. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilusany cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, having a spiral, chambered shell with pearly septa.

  2. paper nautilus.

  3. (initial capital letter),  the first nuclear-powered submarine launched by the U.S. Navy.



nautilus

/ ˈnɔːtɪləs /

noun

  1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Nautilus, esp the pearly nautilus

  2. short for paper nautilus

“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus1

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek nautílos paper nautilus, literally, sailor, derivative of naûs ship; the webbed dorsal arms of the paper nautilus were thought to have been used as sails
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus1

C17: via Latin from Greek nautilos sailor, from naus ship
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Agnoli, who worked as a carpenter prior to entering architecture, used long spans of wood to create massive trusses and spiraling nautilus shapesand formed brick into catenary arches.

The results suggest nautilus shells, orderly yet beguilingly sinuous.

The storm had twisted the structure's metal roof like a nautilus shell and rolled it out into the street.

From Salon

“It actually drives me nuts that people call them ‘paper nautilus,’” Dr. Vecchione said.

Next to the glass, a small wooden bookshelf in the shape of a nautilus shell holds a curved spiral of librex.

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