cephalopod

noun

ceph·​a·​lo·​pod ˈse-fə-lə-ˌpäd 

: any of a class (Cephalopoda) of marine mollusks including the squids, cuttlefishes, and octopuses that move by expelling water from a tubular siphon under the head and that have a group of muscular usually sucker-bearing arms around the front of the head, highly developed eyes, and usually a sac containing ink which is ejected for defense or concealment

cephalopod adjective

Examples of cephalopod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her beats include quantum technology, AI, animal intelligence, corvids, and cephalopods. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The results showed what the researchers describe as being a trivial contribution of gradual evolution toward the physical shape of cephalopods over some 500 million years, with 99% of the evolution occurring in spectacular bursts near the forking of branches. —Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025

Second, there were cephalopods, which include the octopus and cuttlefish. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

The results suggest the cephalopods have a similar sense of body ownership as humans and other mammals, which emerges from multi-sensory signals such as sight and touch. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from cephal- + Greek pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cephalopod

• brachiopod
• upanishad
• abroad
• applaud
• backboard
• ballade
• defraud
• ephod
• facade
• guffawed
• outlawed
• ramrod

Kids Definition

cephalopod

noun

ceph·​a·​lo·​pod ˈsef-ə-lə-ˌpäd 

: any of a class of mollusks that include the squids, cuttlefishes, and octopuses and have a group of muscular sucker-bearing arms, highly developed eyes, and usually a bag of inky fluid which can be released for defense