octopus

[ ok-tuh-puhs ]

noun

plural octopuses, octopi

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

I admired but disregarded the octopus — too much of an ordeal.

From Salon

“It’s fun,” she said of the custom hearts, cherries, pink octopuses and evil eyes she quilts and appliques on to sweatshirts.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside the convention hall, an octopus and a parrot casually drink a glass of wine together.

From BBC

Playful creatures from octopus and squid to whales, bunnies and even hamsters create a graphic and exciting vibe just in time for the holidays.

From Los Angeles Times

The duo used a custommade respirometer to measure how much oxygen the pulsating cells used in the process, a proxy for how much energy it takes an octopus to trigger color changes.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise