octopus

[ ok-tuh-puhs ]

noun

, plural oc·to·pus·es, oc·to·pi [ok, -t, uh, -pahy].

1. any octopod of the genus Octopus, having a soft, oval body and eight sucker-bearing arms, living mostly at the bottom of the sea.
2. something likened to an octopus, as an organization with many forms of far-reaching influence or control.

octopus

/ ˈɒktəpəs /

noun

1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genera Octopus, Eledone, etc, having a soft oval body with eight long suckered tentacles and occurring at the sea bottom: order Octopoda (octopods)
2. a powerful influential organization with far-reaching effects, esp harmful ones
3. another name for spider

Word History and Origins

Origin of octopus¹

1750–60; < New Latin < Greek oktṓpous (plural oktṓpodes ) eight-footed; octo-, -pod

Word History and Origins

Origin of octopus¹

C18: via New Latin from Greek oktōpous having eight feet

Example Sentences

His current energy supplier, Octopus Energy, told him the problem was down to signal issues in the area and may be because he lived “far up north” - reasoning that left him feeling deeply unimpressed.

From BBC

Panorama contacted Dr Battu’s energy supplier, Octopus Energy, about the problems he was having with his meter.

From BBC

However, in what they described as “a highly unusual move”, Octopus told us that it had in fact decided to break the rules and fix his meter by connecting it to the mobile network.

From BBC

Meter engineer, “Alan”, agrees with Octopus that the rules are too rigid.

From BBC

Previous effigies have included Rishi Sunak riding a train, Suella Braverman as an octopus and Jeremy Clarkson driving a skip.

From BBC

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise