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octopod

octopod

1 8.3
A sea animal with eight arms and no internal shell
  • noun
  • /ˈɑk.təˌpɑd/
translation icon : octópodo
  • Octopods stalked the grounds of the colony, as if to intimidate them.

Examples

  • "The octopod seemed to pause, while the three others stood there threateningly.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Then we saw the second of the octopods.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The octopod opened its arms, releasing Haemum.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • To his horror, Nibur saw an octopod dragged off its feet.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • There stood an octopod.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The octopod swiftly changed colors to blend in with its surroundings.

  • At the aquarium, we watched an octopod squeeze through a narrow opening.

  • The octopod skillfully used its arms to pry open a clam.

Synonyms

octopus
vsoctopod
18 1.0

A sea animal with a soft body and eight long arms

emphasizes classification detail of eight arms and no internal shell
cephalopod
vsoctopod
  • Specialized
4 8.1

A marine animal with a large head, big eyes, and arms with suckers, like an octopus or squid

is limited to animals with eight arms and no internal shell
cephalopod mollusk
vsoctopod
  • Specialized
6.7

A sea animal with a large head, big eyes, and many arms with suckers like an octopus or squid

is narrower, applying only to eight-armed forms without internal shell

Surface Forms

octopod singular
octopods plural

Morphology

octopod = octopus (transparent) = octo + pod

Formed from combining elements meaning 'eight' + 'foot' and aligns directly with the sense 'eight‑armed cephalopod', so learners familiar with 'octo-/octopus' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word octopod comes from Greek parts octo- 'eight' and -pod 'foot', the same roots you see in octagon and octopus. So an octopod is literally an 'eight-foot' animal, which explains why it has eight arms.