definitions

octopus

[ ok-tuh-puh s ]
/ ˈɒk tə pəs /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR octopus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural oc·to·pus·es, oc·to·pi [ok-tuh-pahy] /ˈɒk təˌpaɪ/.

any octopod of the genus Octopus, having a soft, oval body and eight sucker-bearing arms, living mostly at the bottom of the sea.
something likened to an octopus, as an organization with many forms of far-reaching influence or control.

RELATED CONTENT

Where Does The Name October Come From?October is here, and in the northern hemisphere that often means the days are flush with falling leaves, chilling weather, and growing anticipation for the holiday season. But, where exactly did this month get its name from?
READ MORE
What’s The Difference Between “Possum” And “Opossum”?The most famous marsupial of the moment is Heidi, the cross-eyed opossum from Germany. Heidi has made headlines across the globe and has over 200,000 fans on Facebook. Enough with the cuteness, and on to a great story of language: What is the difference between possum and opossum? The answer is more complex and interesting than you might think. The opossum received its name in the …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

business, company, partnership, society, enterprise, association, clan, shell, zoo, crowd, hookup, jungle, crew, gang, syndicate, mob, ring, outfit, bunch, multinational

Nearby words

octogenarian, octomerous, octometer, octonary, octopod, octopus, octoroon, octosyllabic, octosyllable, octroi, octuple

Origin of octopus

1750–60; < New Latin < Greek oktṓpous (plural oktṓpodes) eight-footed; see octo-, -pod
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for octopus

British Dictionary definitions for octopus

octopus

/ (ˈɒktəpəs) /

noun plural -puses

any cephalopod mollusc of the genera Octopus, Eledone, etc, having a soft oval body with eight long suckered tentacles and occurring at the sea bottom: order Octopoda (octopods)
a powerful influential organization with far-reaching effects, esp harmful ones
another name for spider (def. 8)

Word Origin for octopus

C18: via New Latin from Greek oktōpous having eight feet
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

Word Origin and History for octopus

octopus

n.

1758, genus name of a type of eight-armed cephalopod mollusks, from Greek oktopous, literally "eight-footed," from okto "eight" (see eight) + pous "foot" (see foot (n.)). Proper plural is octopodes, though octopuses probably works better in English. Octopi is from mistaken assumption that -us in this word is the Latin noun ending that takes -i in plural.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper