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
Thomas also samples the Spanish octopus with a cucumber salad and edible orchid.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024
Newsom signs a bill to ban octopus farming in California.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
The verdant expanse of the yard, with palm trees, octopus trees, live oaks, interrupted by the machinery of demolition.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Where to watch or stream: Netflix Oswald Set in a world filled with kindness, Oswald the oversized octopus navigates life in the big city alongside his friends Henry and Daisy.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for octopus 
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The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024
Newsom signs a bill to ban octopus farming in California.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
The verdant expanse of the yard, with palm trees, octopus trees, live oaks, interrupted by the machinery of demolition.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Where to watch or stream: Netflix Oswald Set in a world filled with kindness, Oswald the oversized octopus navigates life in the big city alongside his friends Henry and Daisy.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for octopus
Dictionary Entries Near octopus
Cite this Entry
“Octopus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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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