noun
nautilus
NAW-tih-luhs
noun
1
A sea mollusk with tentacles and a spiral shell divided into air-filled chambers.
"The chambered nautilus is often used as a symbol of natural growth and proportion."
How to Use Nautilus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spiral-shelled sea creature related to squid and octopuses.
Word Forms
nautiluses plural, nautili plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “nautilus”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chambered _____ is often used as a symbol of natural growth and proportion.
Etymology
From Latin nautilus, from Greek nautilos, "sailor" — the shell's tentacled opening reminded people of a sailor rowing a boat.