cephalopod mollusk
- noun
- /ˈsɛfələˌpɒd ˈmɒləsk/
- Specialized
:
molusco cefalópodo
- The octopus is a remarkable cephalopod mollusk known for its intelligence and ability to camouflage.
Examples
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Many cephalopod mollusks change color rapidly to communicate or blend into their surroundings.
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Scientists discovered a new species of cephalopod mollusk in the deep ocean trench.
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The cephalopod mollusk is known for its intelligence.
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Did you know that the cephalopod mollusks can change color?
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An octopus is a fascinating cephalopod mollusk known for its ability to change color and texture.
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Cuttlefish are extraordinary cephalopod mollusks that can communicate using complex skin patterns.
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Many marine scientists study cephalopod mollusks to understand their unique behaviors and habitats.
Synonyms
11
5.6
A soft-bodied animal like a snail or clam that often has a shell
4
8.1
A marine animal with a large head, big eyes, and arms with suckers, like an octopus or squid
1
7.9
A soft-bodied animal with no backbone, like a snail or octopus
A sea animal with two gills like a squid or octopus
A sea animal like a squid or octopus that has two gills
A sea animal like a squid or octopus that has two gills
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'cephalopod' names a specific kind of marine mollusk and 'mollusk' is the broader taxonomic category, so the combined noun simply denotes a mollusk that is a cephalopod. This taxonomic, descriptive relation is directly derivable from the constituents and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand the meaning.
Etymology
Cephalopod mollusk The name cephalopod mollusk comes from old words meaning 'head' and 'foot', because cephalopod points to a head with 'feet', the arms and tentacles, attached to it, and mollusk shows it is a soft-bodied sea animal. So, the name helps you picture animals like the octopus and squid and explains why we use it for these creatures today.