mollusk

or mol·lusc

[ mol-uhsk ]

noun

1. any invertebrate of the phylum Mollusca, typically having a calcareous shell of one, two, or more pieces that wholly or partly enclose the soft, unsegmented body, including the chitons, snails, bivalves, squids, and octopuses.

mollusk

/ mŏl′əsk /

1. Any of numerous invertebrate animals of the phylum Mollusca, usually living in water and often having a hard outer shell. They have a muscular foot, a well-developed circulatory and nervous system, and often complex eyes. Mollusks include gastropods (snails and shellfish), slugs, octopuses, squids, and the extinct ammonites. Mollusks appear in the fossil record in the early Cambrian Period, but it is not known from what group they evolved.

Other Words From

• mol·lus·kan mol·lus·can [m, uh, -, luhs, -k, uh, n], adjective noun
• mollusk·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mollusk¹

1775–85; < French mollusque < New Latin Mollusca; Mollusca

Example Sentences

This humble mollusk is a vital source of income and nutrition for many coastal residents.

From Science Daily

The sea creature, which they nicknamed the “mystery mollusk” because of its snail-like features, captivated them.

From Los Angeles Times

The mollusks are efficient filter feeders and can increase the clarity of water by consuming large quantities of plankton, which native fish and other creatures depend on.

From Los Angeles Times

These tiny dark-yellowish mollusks, native to rivers in China and Southeast Asia, have already wreaked havoc in South America, and for years have kept officials and ecologists across the United States on high alert.

From Los Angeles Times

The so-called “hot girl food” is exactly what its name suggests: processed seafood — namely sardines, anchovies, salmon, mollusks and shellfish — that’s neatly packaged and presented in a peel-back, often decorative tin.

From Salon

Related Words

• abalone
• clam
• snail