cephalopod

IPA/ˈsefələpɒd/
KK[sˈɛfələpˌɑd]IPA/ˈsefələpɑːd/

cephalopod — noun

  • cephalopodsingular
  • cephalopodsplural

1. a marine mollusk whose body is dominated by a large head with a ring of muscular

1.nounC1
Definition

a marine mollusk whose body is dominated by a large head with a ring of muscular arms attached directly to it — octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish are the best-known kinds

Example

Dr. Okonkwo's research team discovered a new cephalopod species off the coast of Mozambique.

collocation: cephalopod species

A giant cephalopod near Hanauma Bay changed colour in less than a second.

Common collocations
  • cephalopod species
  • fossil cephalopod
  • cephalopod ink
  • cephalopod tentacles

Usage Note

Common in scientific and educational writing; in everyday speech, speakers usually name the specific creature (octopus, squid) rather than using this biological term.

Common Mistakes

A cephalopod is a kind of fish.
A cephalopod is a kind of mollusk, related to snails and clams.
cephalopods are mollusks, not fish, even though they live in the sea.

Word family

  • Cephalopoda
    noun
  • cephalopodous
    adjective

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • cephalopod species
  • fossil cephalopod

Adjectives

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

From Greek kephale (head) and pous, podos (foot), literally meaning 'head-footed'. The name describes how the octopus or squid appears to have its limbs growing directly from its head.