Nautilus

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈnɔː.tɪ.lÉ™s/
• US IPA: /ˈnÉ”.tɪ.lÉ™s/, /ˈnÉ‘.tɪ.lÉ™s/

Origin

From Latin nautilus, from Ancient Greek ναυτίλος (nautilos, "paper nautilus, sailor").

Full definition of nautilus

Noun

1. A marine mollusc, of the family native to the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, which has tentacles and a spiral shell with a series of air-filled chambers, of which is the type genus.
• 1956 — Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, p 44He was still prepared to go on collecting all that life could offer, like a chambered nautilus patiently adding new cells to its slowly expanding spiral.

Synonyms

• chambered nautilus

Derived terms

• paper nautilus