octopod

Everyday

1. (science) An animal with eight arms or legs, especially an octopus. tree →
2. (science) A member of the group of sea animals that includes octopuses. tree →

In the lessons

A biology word used when sorting animals: octopuses are octopods; squid and cuttlefish have eight arms plus two longer tentacles, so they are not counted as octopods. Also used in science fiction for eight-legged robots or aliens.

Examples

• An octopus is an octopod with eight arms. tree →
• Squid are not octopods because they have ten limbs. tree →
• The deep-sea dumbo octopus is a cute octopod. tree →
• Scientists study how octopods change colour. tree →
• The robot octopod walked on eight legs. tree →
• Octopods are very clever and can open jars. tree →

Note

"Octo" means eight (octagon, October was once the eighth month). In maths problems: 3 octopods have 3 × 8 = 24 arms. Spiders have eight legs but are called arachnids, not octopods.