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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
This provides them far more freedom of movement than a tail, and allows octopuses to demonstrate remarkable dexterity.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
Customers have long enjoyed its craft beers and taco platters filled with Mary’s Chicken al pastor, grilled octopus or sauteed portobello mushrooms at three sister locations in the East Bay.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
On an expedition to the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges, the exploratory dives revealed a host of rare finds, including two flying spaghetti monsters, a pristine coral reef, squat lobsters, and a Casper octopus – the first spotted in the South Pacific.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
This provides each arm with a degree of autonomy, allowing an octopus to use some arms to perform one task while also carrying out another, entirely different activity with other arms.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
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Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
Customers have long enjoyed its craft beers and taco platters filled with Mary’s Chicken al pastor, grilled octopus or sauteed portobello mushrooms at three sister locations in the East Bay.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
On an expedition to the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges, the exploratory dives revealed a host of rare finds, including two flying spaghetti monsters, a pristine coral reef, squat lobsters, and a Casper octopus – the first spotted in the South Pacific.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
This provides each arm with a degree of autonomy, allowing an octopus to use some arms to perform one task while also carrying out another, entirely different activity with other arms.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
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 3 Feb. 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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