Dictionary

octopus

noun oc·to·pus \ˈäk-tə-pəs, -ˌps\

: a sea animal that has a soft body and eight long arms

: the flesh of an octopus used as food

plural oc·to·pus·es or oc·to·pi\-ˌpī\

Full Definition of OCTOPUS

1
:  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
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Illustration of OCTOPUS

Origin of OCTOPUS

New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktōpous
First Known Use: 1758

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

Rhymes with OCTOPUS

OCTOPI Defined for Kids

octopus

noun oc·to·pus \ˈäk-tə-pəs\
plural oc·to·pus·es or oc·to·pi \-tə-ˌpī\

Definition of OCTOPUS for Kids

:  a marine animal that has a soft rounded body with eight long flexible arms about its base which have sucking disks able to seize and hold things (as prey)

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