1. Cephalopod of the Indian and Pacific oceans having a spiral shell with pale pearly partitions
   "The chambered nautilus's beautiful spiral shell has inspired poets and artists for centuries"; "The pearly nautilus's beautiful spiral shell has inspired poets and artists for centuries";
   - chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus
    
2. Cephalopod mollusk of warm seas whose females have delicate papery spiral shells
   "The female paper nautilus carries her eggs in her delicate shell";
   - paper nautilus, argonaut, Argonauta argo
    
3. A submarine that is propelled by nuclear power
   "The nautilus patrolled silently beneath the ocean surface";
   - nuclear submarine, nuclear-powered submarine

Derived forms: nautiluses, nautili

Type of: cephalopod, cephalopod mollusk, octopod, pigboat [informal], sub [informal], submarine

Part of: Argonauta, genus Argonauta, genus Nautilus

Encyclopedia: Nautilus, Miami Beach