nau·ti·lus

(nôt′l-əs)

n. pl. nau·ti·lus·es or nau·ti·li (nôt′l-ī′)

1. Any of several cephalopod mollusks of the family Nautilidae of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially Nautilus pompilius, having numerous slender tentacles and an external coiled pearly shell divided into air-filled chambers. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus.

2. The paper nautilus.

[Latin, from Greek nautilos, sailor, nautilus, from nautēs, mariner, from naus, ship; see nāu- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nautilus

(ˈnɔːtɪləs)

n, pl -luses or -li (-ˌlaɪ)

1. (Animals) any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Nautilus, esp the pearly nautilus

2. (Animals) short for paper nautilus

[C17: via Latin from Greek nautilos sailor, from naus ship]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nau•ti•lus

(ˈnɔt l əs, ˈnɒt-)

n., pl. nau•ti•lus•es, nau•ti•li (ˈnɔt lˌaɪ, ˈnɒt-)

1. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus. any cephalopod of the genus Nautilus having a spiral, chambered shell with a pearly interior.

2. paper nautilus.

[1595–1605; < Latin < Greek nautílos paper nautilus, literally, sailor, derivative of naûs ship]

nau·ti·lus

(nôt′l-əs)

A tropical sea mollusk having a spiral shell with alternating white and light-brown bands on the outside and many chambers on the inside. The nautilus is related to the squids and octopuses.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	nautilus - a submarine that is propelled by nuclear power nuclear submarine, nuclear-powered submarine pigboat, submarine, U-boat, sub - a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
	2.	nautilus - cephalopod mollusk of warm seas whose females have delicate papery spiral shells Argonauta argo, paper nautilus, Argonaut octopod - a cephalopod with eight arms but lacking an internal shell Argonauta, genus Argonauta - type genus of the family Argonautidae: paper nautilus
	3.	nautilus - cephalopod of the Indian and Pacific oceans having a spiral shell with pale pearly partitions chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus cephalopod, cephalopod mollusk - marine mollusk characterized by well-developed head and eyes and sucker-bearing tentacles genus Nautilus - type genus and sole recent representative of the family Nautilidae

Translations

nautilus

[ˈnɔːtɪləs] N (nautiluses or nautili (pl)) [ˈnɔːtɪˌlaɪ] → nautilo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

nautilus

n → Nautilus m, → Schiffsboot nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Sir," said Captain Nemo, showing me the instruments hanging on the walls of his room, "here are the contrivances required for the navigation of the Nautilus. Here, as in the drawing-room, I have them always under my eyes, and they indicate my position and exact direction in the middle of the ocean.

But these others, no doubt, answer to the particular requirements of the Nautilus. This dial with movable needle is a manometer, is it not?"

I owe all to the ocean; it produces electricity, and electricity gives heat, light, motion, and, in a word, life to the Nautilus."

This dial hanging in front of us indicates the speed of the Nautilus. An electric thread puts it in communication with the screw, and the needle indicates the real speed.

"If you will allow me, we will examine the stern of the Nautilus."

The partitions had doors that were shut hermetically by means of india-rubber instruments, and they ensured the safety of the Nautilus in case of a leak.

This boat is attached to the upper part of the hull of the Nautilus, and occupies a cavity made for it.

But the door was shut, and I could not see the management of it, which might have given me an idea of the number of men employed on board the Nautilus.

I examined it with great interest, in order to understand the machinery of the Nautilus.

"I have seen the Nautilus manoeuvre before the Abraham Lincoln, and I have my own ideas as to its speed.

Come into the saloon, it is our usual study, and there you will learn all you want to know about the Nautilus."

View in context

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Lincoln Nautilus offers Revel by Harman audio system