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
Beyond this, the common octopus featured here excels at camouflaging with its surroundings.
—Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
If the bill becomes a law, California would join Washington as the second state to prohibit octopus farming.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
Cartoons depicted him as a massive octopus ensnaring and crushing his enemies.
—Barry M. Mitnick / Made By History, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024
See giant, glowing underwater octopus, an underwater pumpkin patch, and glowing environments for families to explore together.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for octopus 
Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
If the bill becomes a law, California would join Washington as the second state to prohibit octopus farming.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
Cartoons depicted him as a massive octopus ensnaring and crushing his enemies.
—Barry M. Mitnick / Made By History, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024
See giant, glowing underwater octopus, an underwater pumpkin patch, and glowing environments for families to explore together.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for octopus
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'octopus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near octopus
Cite this Entry
“Octopus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus. Accessed 8 Oct. 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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