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- octopus 1
octopus
noun
oc·to·pus
ˈäk-tə-pəs 
-ˌpu̇s
plural octopuses or octopi
ˈäk-tə-ˌpī
1
plural also octopodes
äk-ˈtä-pə-ˌdēz
-ˈtō-
: any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers
broadly
: any octopod excepting the paper nautilus
2
: something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches
an octopus of a corporation which lends, buys, produces, and sells—
Atlantic
Atlantic
Examples of octopus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Add some final touches with markers such as fruit details, faces, or whatever your child desires.
15 of 35
Sweet Sea Creatures
In this Easter egg design, kids can create their own turtles, crabs, octopuses—or any type of fish!
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 16 Apr. 2025
Foster meets the young octopus while free-diving near Cape Town.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Still, my octopus over rice was amazing and an open-face smoked salmon sandwich right before landing was a great way to start my day back in New York.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Prime Video did green-light her Tomb Raider adaptation last year, and she was confirmed to be narrating a documentary series about an octopus for the streaming service on March 3.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
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Annabelle Canela, Parents, 16 Apr. 2025
Foster meets the young octopus while free-diving near Cape Town.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Still, my octopus over rice was amazing and an open-face smoked salmon sandwich right before landing was a great way to start my day back in New York.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Prime Video did green-light her Tomb Raider adaptation last year, and she was confirmed to be narrating a documentary series about an octopus for the streaming service on March 3.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for octopus
Cite this Entry
“Octopus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
octopus
noun
oc·to·pus
ˈäk-tə-pəs
plural octopuses or octopi
-ˌpī
1
: any of various sea mollusks that are cephalopods having eight muscular arms with two rows of suckers which hold objects (as its prey)
2
: something suggestive of an octopus
especially
: a powerful grasping organization with many branches
Etymology
from scientific Latin Octopod-, Octopus "octopus," from Greek oktōpous, literally, "eight-footed," from oktō "eight" and pous "foot"
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