octopus

n. a sea creature with a soft body and eight long arms covered in suckers.

n. a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda, possessing a soft body and eight arms equipped with suction cups.

“The octopus hid among the rocks and changed its color to match the sand.”

“Marine biologists observed the octopus using its arms to manipulate tools, demonstrating a level of intelligence rare among invertebrates.”

n. the meat of an octopus used as food.

n. the flesh of the octopus consumed as seafood. Uncountable when referring to the meat as a substance.

“We ordered grilled octopus with lemon and olive oil for our starter.”

“The chef prepared the octopus by slow-braising it in red wine before finishing it on a high-heat charcoal grill.”

n. a large organization that has many powerful branches controlled from one center.

n. a large, powerful organization with many interconnected branches or interests, typically exerting influence from a central point.

“The multinational corporation was described as an octopus with its reach in every industry.”

“Critics viewed the state-owned energy firm as a bureaucratic octopus, stifling competition through its vast network of regional subsidiaries.”

Literary

n. a backup breathing tube used by divers in case of an emergency.

n. a secondary demand valve or regulator used in scuba diving, typically colored yellow for high visibility in emergency air-sharing situations.

“Every diver must check that their octopus is working before they enter the water.”

“During the safety drill, the instructor demonstrated how to locate and deploy the octopus if a buddy runs out of air.”

Technical

v. to spread out in many different directions like arms.

v. to extend or branch out in multiple directions from a central point.

“The city began to octopus into the surrounding countryside as new roads were built.”

“The ancient tree's roots began to octopus across the forest floor, gripping the soil in a complex web of timber.”

Literary