Fluther: Verbs to describe how an octopus moves?

Verbs to describe how an octopus moves?

Asked by longtresses (1334

) March 2nd, 2011
26 responses
“Great Question” (3

)

What are some of the verbs to describe how an octopus moves?

I’m totally clueless on this. Every time I have to describe an octopus, I’d just say, “An octopus swims deep in the ocean.” Very boring.

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Topics: words, animals, vocabulary, oceanography, marine life

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Answers

“Undulate” was the first verb that came to mind for me.

aprilsimnel (30749

)“Great Answer” (12

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Pulsate
Pulsation

boffin (10685

)“Great Answer” (2

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The octopus draws water into a cavity in its body, then squirts it out in jets through a tube, or siphon, just under its head. The force of this squirting is so powerful that it moves the octopus

I guess Pulsate… lol Dammit @boffin

coffeenut (6171

)“Great Answer” (1

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An octopus will jet through the water when it’s fleeing danger, or if it has a hankerin’ for some sweet octopi!

Brian1946 (32272

)“Great Answer” (1

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@aprilsimnel took my answer. “Flowing” and “oozing” might also be good.

theninth (1638

)“Great Answer” (1

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

Sinuous, flowing, undulating.

syz (35938

)“Great Answer” (2

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Sinulate.

gasman (11335

)“Great Answer” (2

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Response moderated (Unhelpful)

“Writhing.”

Nullo (22009

)“Great Answer” (2

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Propulsion. Or, if on the ocean floor, crawling.

syz (35938

)“Great Answer” (2

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Octopuses are octopedal; they crawl, glide, coil, intertwine, convolve, creep, ambulate, flow and drift.

this and this might also be helpful.

everephebe (11611

)“Great Answer” (4

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Gliding.

marinelife (62485

)“Great Answer” (1

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randomly

perspicacious (10982

)“Great Answer” (1

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I think octomom usually plods or waddles from one camera to the next. ;-)

Brian1946 (32272

)“Great Answer” (3

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“Sinulate” is not a word, yet. The adjective is “sinuous” and describes shape and not movement.

An octopus can undulate, ambulate, or pulsate sinuously.

gailcalled (54644

)“Great Answer” (1

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Move with balletic movements.

Their limbs flow and move with seemingly random motion, whilst propelling the ocutopus’s body in a very specific direction. The limbs are working in tandem, although it is not always apparent to the observer. It is apparent to the octopus.

With the skill and strength of a dancer, the octopus flails his eight arms to perambulate his bulbous, yet sensuous body through the water. (Believe it or not, I actually see octupi as moving in a similar way to beautiful, strong ballet dancers)

Feel free to use any and all of these word combinations to get your point across.

Kardamom (33289

)“Great Answer” (3

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leguleighting….
legulating…..

I made em up…can you tell??

jazmina88 (11652

)“Great Answer” (5

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The Bebop around wherever they want to.

buster (10274

)“Great Answer” (3

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Languidly, most of the time.

Buttonstc (27605

)“Great Answer” (2

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http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html

At one point in this video, an octopus moves as if it’s a rock, rolling on the bottom. Octopus are brilliant at camouflage, so you could say they play hide-and-seek as they roam the oceans.

You could say they ink their way through the water, but my BEST pick for a verb would be ‘furl’. They furl and unfurl their way through the ocean.

cazzie (24516

)“Great Answer” (3

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