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paper nautilus
noun
: a pelagic cephalopod (genus Argonauta) of which the female has a delicate papery shell
Examples of paper nautilus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year’s competition was won by Jialing Cai, whose photograph of a paper nautilus drifting on a piece of ocean debris at night, surrounded by heavy sediment, was taken in the Philippines.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 15 Aug. 2024
The winning and commended images of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023 competition were recently announced, with the marine biologist and amateur photographer Jialing Cai named the overall winner for her image of a paper nautilus floating on a piece of ocean debris.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2023
As a buoyancy aid, the argonaut’s paper nautilus is superficially similar to the much harder shell of its namesake, the chambered nautiluses (right).
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
Scientists have long wondered about the purpose of the argonaut’s paper nautilus.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
The argonaut octopuses secrete a thin, white, brittle shell called the paper nautilus.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2010
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1792, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of paper nautilus was
circa 1792
Dictionary Entries Near paper nautilus
Cite this Entry
“Paper nautilus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20nautilus. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
paper nautilus
noun
: a mollusk with eight arms that is related to the octopuses and of which the female has a thin fragile shell
called also argonaut
More from Merriam-Webster on paper nautilus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paper nautilus
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