octopus
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Ancient Greek ὀκτώπους (oktōpous), from ὀκτώ (oktō, “eight”) + πούς (pous, “foot”).
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) IPA: /ˈɒkt.ə.pʊs/ X-SAMPA: /"Qkt.@.pUs/
- (US) IPA: /ˈɑːkt.ə.pʊs/ X-SAMPA: /"A:kt.@.pUs/
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Audio (US) (file)
Noun [edit]
octopus (plural octopuses, octopodes or octopi) (see usage note regarding plurals)
- Any of several marine molluscs/mollusks, of the family Octopodidae, having no internal or external protective shell or bone (unlike the nautilus, squid or cuttlefish) and eight arms each covered with suckers.
- (uncountable) The flesh of these marine molluscs eaten as food.
- An organization that has many powerful branches controlled from the centre.
Usage notes [edit]
The plural octopi is hypercorrect, coming from the mistaken notion that the -us in octopūs is a Latin second declension ending. The word is actually treated as a third declension noun in Latin. The plural octopodes follows the Ancient Greek plural, ὀκτώποδες (oktōpodes).
Sources differ on which plurals are acceptable: Fowler's Modern English Usage asserts that “the only acceptable plural in English is octopuses”, while Merriam-Webster and other dictionaries accept octopi as a plural form. The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopuses, octopi, and octopodes (the order reflecting decreasing frequency of use), stating that the last form is rare.
The term octopod (either plural octopods and octopodes can be found) is taken from the taxonomic order Octopoda but has no classical equivalent, and is not necessarily synonymous (it can encompass any member of that order). The collective form octopus is usually reserved for animals consumed for food.
Derived terms [edit]
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
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See also [edit]
Anagrams [edit]
Dutch [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Latin.
Noun [edit]
octopus m (plural octopussen, diminutive octopusje)
Latin [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Ancient Greek ὀκτώπους (oktōpous, “eight feet”).
Noun [edit]
octopūs (genitive octopodis); m, third declension
- (New Latin) octopus
- 1825 — Willem de Haan, Monographiæ ammoniteorum et goniatiteorum specimen, page 10.
- Jam vero testa in hac familia sola universalis pars est, Octopodis tantum exceptis.
- Now truly a shell is a part universal in this single family, octopus the notable exception.
- Jam vero testa in hac familia sola universalis pars est, Octopodis tantum exceptis.
- 1825 — Willem de Haan, Monographiæ ammoniteorum et goniatiteorum specimen, page 10.
Inflection [edit]
| Number | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | octopūs | octopodēs |
| genitive | octopodis | octopodum |
| dative | octopodī | octopodibus |
| accusative | octopodem | octopodēs |
| ablative | octopode | octopodibus |
| vocative | octopūs | octopodēs |
Norwegian [edit]
Noun [edit]
octopus
