octopus

American  

[ok-tuh-puhs] / ˈɒk tə pəs /

noun

PLURAL

octopuses, octopi

1. any octopod of the genus Octopus, having a soft, oval body and eight sucker-bearing arms, living mostly at the bottom of the sea.

2. something likened to an octopus, as an organization with many forms of far-reaching influence or control.

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octopus British  

/ ˈɒktəpəs /

noun

1. 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)

2. a powerful influential organization with far-reaching effects, esp harmful ones

3. another name for spider

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Etymology

Origin of octopus

1750–60; < New Latin < Greek oktṓpous (plural oktṓpodes ) eight-footed; octo-, -pod

Example Sentences

Hanging up octopuses to dry on a clothesline, he tells the Tanners’ nanny, “Like to f— get you and hang out on a line.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was first grouped with squids and octopuses, then with sea slugs, jellyfish ancestors, and even worms.

From Science Daily

The twilight zone teems with life, including krill, squid, fish, octopus, and delicate jelly-like species.

From Science Daily

"This natural pigment is what gives an octopus or a squid its ability to camouflage -- a fantastic superpower -- and our achievement to advance production of this material is just the tip of the iceberg."

From Science Daily

It’s also highly intelligent and fast, propelling itself via slick tentacles like a bloody octopus.

From Salon

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise