nautilus
1
8.4
- noun
- /ˈnɔːtɪləs/
:
nautilus
- The nautilus shell, horns of sheep, whirlpools, tornadoes, our fingerprints, our DNA and our Milky Way, inclusive.
- nautilus shell
- chambered nautilus
And then you have this peculiar offshoot from that kind of cephalopod, the group that nautiluses are a kind of throwback to.
- And then you have this peculiar offshoot from that kind of cephalopod, the group that nautiluses are a kind of throwback to.
Examples
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The nautilus is a fascinating creature known for its distinct spiral shell, which it uses for buoyancy in the ocean.
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How can a stuffed skunk and a nautilus shell improve students' learning?
Academic text (1995) -
And then you have this peculiar offshoot from that kind of cephalopod, the group that nautiluses are a kind of throwback to.
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The gold paper was stamped with a pattern of ridges and spines, a miniature nautilus wrapped around dark, imported chocolate.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Think you'll find trilobites or a chambered nautilus that looks just like fossils on Earth?" Dex took a deep breath, almost a sigh.
Fiction book (1999) -
In tropical waters, divers often encounter the nautilus, a marine animal that retreats into its beautifully spiraled, chambered shell.
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Scientists study the nautilus to understand how its shell structure helps it survive in the warm seas where it lives.
Synonyms
A sea animal with a spiral shell divided into chambers and shiny white walls
A sea animal like a squid that has a spiral shiny shell
Compounds
- Australian
A sea animal with a spiral shell divided into chambers and shiny white walls
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nautilus comes from the Greek nautilos, from naut- meaning 'ship' or 'sailor', the same root you see in nautical and astronaut. The sea animal's spiral shell looks like a tiny ship and helps it float, so the name fits its shell and the way it moves.