mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk ˈmä-ləsk How to pronounce mollusk (audio)
variants or mollusc
: any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (such as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell
broadly : shellfish
molluscan adjective
or less commonly molluskan

Examples of mollusk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sentinel oysters and other bivalve mollusks are now monitoring ocean water quality and environmental degradation in multiple locations around the globe. John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Chitons, small mollusks that live on intertidal rocks and in the deep sea, are like little tanks protected by eight shell plates — a body plan that’s remained relatively stable for some 300 million years. Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Younger channel cats will eat a variety of plants, along with small invertebrates, insects, and mollusks. Outdoor Life, 30 Nov. 2023 But as the oceans warm, the mollusks are migrating further north. Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 Other animals – including reptiles, fish, and mollusks – replicate this tactic. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 Utah, too, has one of the most complete fossil records on the planet, starting 2 billion years ago and featuring everything from mollusks to trilobites. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023 And oyster repopulation efforts are flourishing in sanctuary areas in an attempt to build up oyster habitats and make the mollusks more resilient. Joe Heim, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024 Seeing a child, with ocean water gleaming off his perfect skin, holding up a mollusk with an expression of success on his face does more for the heart than any meditation ever could. Kim Gooden, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mollusk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French mollusque, from New Latin Mollusca, from Latin, neuter plural of molluscus thin-shelled (of a nut), from mollis

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mollusk was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near mollusk

Cite this Entry

“Mollusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mollusk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mollusk

noun
mol·​lusk
variants or mollusc
: any of a large phylum of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, and octopuses) with a soft body lacking segments and usually enclosed in a shell containing calcium
molluscan adjective
also molluskan

Medical Definition

mollusk

noun
mol·​lusk
variants or mollusc
: any invertebrate animal of the phylum Mollusca
molluscan adjective
also molluskan

More from Merriam-Webster on mollusk

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