octopus
/ˈɒktəpəs/noun
(pl. octopuses)
1
- a cephalopod mollusc with eight sucker-bearing arms, a soft sac-like body, strong beak-like jaws, and no internal shell章鱼。
1.1
- Order Octopoda, class Cephalopoda: Octopus and other genera.八腕目, 头足纲：蛸属及其他属。
2
- figurative an organization or system perceived to have far-reaching and typically harmful effects〈喻〉（尤指影响深远且有害的）章鱼式组织：
the octopus of destructive politics.
搞破坏性政治活动的章鱼式组织。
USAGE
The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for Latin plurals, is incorrect.
派生词
octopoid
adjective词源
mid 18th cent.: from Greek oktōpous （参见OCTOPODA）.