noun Uncommon

octopus

OK-tuh-puus

Octopus (noun) means a soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms lined with suckers and no internal shell. Example: “The octopus squeezed through a gap barely wider than its beak.”

noun

A soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms lined with suckers and no internal shell.

"The octopus squeezed through a gap barely wider than its beak."

"Divers watched the octopus change color to match the reef."

The flesh of this creature eaten as food.

"The tapas menu included grilled octopus with paprika."

How to use octopus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sea animal with eight arms, famous for its intelligence and ability to camouflage.

Common mistake

The traditional English plural is "octopuses"; "octopi" is a common but etymologically mistaken Latin-style plural, since the word is Greek, not Latin.

Common pairings

a giant octopus grilled octopus an octopus's tentacles

Word forms

octopussed past tense, octopused past tense, octopuses plural, octopusses plural, octopi plural, octopii plural, octopodes plural, octopus plural, octopusses singular, octopuses singular

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Fill the gap

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The _____ squeezed through a gap barely wider than its beak.

Etymology

From Greek oktopous, literally "eight-foot", from okto ("eight") + pous ("foot").

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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polypus

Related words

polypus

Rhymes for octopus

opus

See all rhymes for octopus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “octopus” mean?

The word “octopus” means a soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms lined with suckers and no internal shell. In plain terms, a sea animal with eight arms, famous for its intelligence and ability to camouflage.

How do you pronounce “octopus”?

“Octopus” is pronounced OK-tuh-puus (/ˈɑktəpʊs/ in IPA).

How do you use “octopus” in a sentence?

Here is “octopus” used in a sentence: “The octopus squeezed through a gap barely wider than its beak.”

What is another word for “octopus”?

Words with a similar meaning to “octopus” include polypus.

What part of speech is “octopus”?

“Octopus” is a noun.

Where does the word “octopus” come from?

The word “octopus” comes from Greek. From Greek oktopous, literally "eight-foot", from okto ("eight") + pous ("foot").

Is “octopus” a common word?

“Octopus” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “octopus” have?

“Octopus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms lined with suckers and no internal shell.

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