squid

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskwid 

plural squid or squids

: any of an order (Teuthoidea) of cephalopods having eight short arms and two usually longer tentacles, a long tapered body, a caudal fin on each side, and usually a slender internal chitinous support

squid

2 of 3

verb

squidded; squidding

intransitive verb

: to fish with or for squid

SQUID

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈskwid 

: an instrument for detecting and measuring very weak magnetic fields

Examples of squid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sea leopards feed on fish, squid, small crustaceans, penguins, smaller seals and even whale carcasses. —Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024

The high winds and rough seas bring cooler, deep-sea water to the surface, and an increase in chlorophyll due to this mixing, which ramps up phytoplankton abundance, bringing with it the fish, squid and crustaceans that feed on it. —New Atlas, 11 July 2024

Merrill and his coauthors discovered plastic debris in the water has an acoustic signature similar to that of dead squid, the primary prey for certain whale species that use sound waves to hunt for food. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024

In this dish, the texture of the squid is just right. —Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

superconducting quantum interference device

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1613, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1967, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squid

• giant squid

Kids Definition

squid

noun

ˈskwid

plural squid or squids

: any of numerous sea mollusks that are cephalopods and have eight short arms and two usually longer tentacles, a long thin body with a fin on each side, and a slender internal shell