Illustration of octopus
- 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
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
The award-winning My Octopus Teacher follows Craig Foster, a man who forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus in a South African kelp forest.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
At speeds like that, however, that brave octopus may have been in for one heck of a ride.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for octopus
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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
The award-winning My Octopus Teacher follows Craig Foster, a man who forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus in a South African kelp forest.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
At speeds like that, however, that brave octopus may have been in for one heck of a ride.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 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 13 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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