/ ˈɒktəpəs; NAmE ˈɑːk-/ noun
[ C , U ] ( pl. octo·puses ) a sea creature with a soft round body and eight long tentacles (= long thin parts like arms), that is sometimes used for food
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent.: from Greek oktōpous , oktōpod- , from oktō eight + pous , pod- foot.