giant squid
5
4.9
- noun
- /ˈdʒaɪənt skwɪd/
- Specialized
:
calamar gigante
- Scientists have, for the first time, photographed a live giant squid.
- giant squid tentacle
- mysterious giant squid
- giant squid attacks
Over time, it became clear that giant squids were more than mythical monsters.
- Over time, it became clear that giant squids were more than mythical monsters.
- So up until this point, why has it been that we haven't really seen much of these giant squid, especially alive out in the wild?
Examples
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Why, it's the Architeuthis, commonly known as the giant squid.
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You see, children, the giant squid has never been seen alive before.
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Did you know that a giant squid's eye can measure up to 9 inches across?
Blog text (10) -
The giant squid and the colossal squid are both found in very cold, dark waters.
Blog text (16) -
An enormous giant squid rose majestically, its tentacles floating out over the gathered children, its round eyes mysteriously scanning the deep.
Fiction book (1998) -
The approach of the giant squid drew scrags and sahuagin, the inhabitants of the submarine city of Kyrasti, from their towers and domes.
Fiction book (1992) -
The giant squid can grow up to 18 meters long, making it one of the largest squid species in the ocean.
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Sperm whales are known to dive deep in search of giant squid, which they prey upon.
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Researchers often study giant squid to learn more about life in the deep ocean.
Synonyms
A very large deep ocean squid that can reach up to 18 metres long
How Big
- Specialized
5
4.9
41
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'giant' (very large) modifying 'squid' (a cephalopod), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it refers to a very large squid. This follows a common cross-linguistic pattern for size + animal descriptions, making the meaning transparent despite referring to a specific species.
Etymology
Giant squid gets its name from sailors who saw a giant (very large) squid with long arms in the deep sea. Their frightening stories of huge sea creatures, often called the 'kraken', helped the name stay, so today 'giant squid' means the very large deep-ocean squid species.