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

That particular playdate had left us with something more like a corn octopus that was far too heavy to be hung.

From Literature

Ghost, the Long Beach Aquarium’s beloved giant Pacific octopus, has died, the aquarium announced in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's been business as usual for us, we stay calm," said the smiling waitress, an octopus tattoo curling up her forearm.

From Barron's

It follows Erica Slaughter, a mysterious woman with a stuffed octopus, who can see the invisible monsters that have been murdering children in a small American town.

From Barron's

When she touched it, the root shook itself and curled back like an octopus tentacle.

From Literature

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise