octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs How to pronounce octopus (audio)
-ˌpu̇s
plural octopuses or octopi ˈäk-tə-ˌpī How to pronounce octopus (audio)
1
plural also octopodes äk-​ˈtä-​pə-​ˌdēz How to pronounce octopus (audio)
-​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

Illustration of octopus

Illustration of octopus
  • octopus 1

Examples of octopus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2024, including a boy's pregnant octopus The World Wildlife Fund estimates that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals each year, either through ingestion or entanglement. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Mar. 2025 The Fleabag creator is making a two-part documentary about octopuses for Amazon. — Peter White, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025 Alake Shilling’s painting of a smiling blue octopus — with a shiny trophy gripped in almost every tentacle — was definitely a surprise. — Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025 The home is near snorkeling destination Turtle Town, known for viewing green sea turtles, vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, eels, reef sharks and octopuses. — David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for octopus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktōpous

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of octopus was in 1759

Rhymes for octopus

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Cite this Entry

“Octopus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

octopus

noun
oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs How to pronounce octopus (audio)
plural octopuses or octopi -ˌpī How to pronounce octopus (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on octopus

Nglish: Translation of octopus for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about octopus

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