noun
cuttlefish
KUHTL-fihsh
noun
1
A squid-like sea creature with eight arms, two long tentacles, and an internal shell, known for squirting dark ink when threatened.
"The cuttlefish changed colour instantly to blend into the coral."
"Divers watched a cuttlefish hover motionless before darting away."
How to Use Cuttlefish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA squid-like sea animal famous for changing colour rapidly and squirting ink for defence.
Common mistake
Despite the name, a cuttlefish isn't a fish at all — it's a mollusc, closely related to squid and octopuses.
Word Forms
cuttlefishes plural, cuttlefish plural
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The _____ changed colour instantly to blend into the coral.
Etymology
From cuttle (an old word for the animal, of uncertain origin) plus fish.