lamellibranch

American  

[luh-mel-uh-brangk] / ləˈmɛl əˌbræŋk /

noun

1. bivalve.

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lamellibranch British  

/ ləˈmɛlɪˌbræŋk /

noun

1. another word for bivalve bivalve

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lamellibranch Scientific  

/ lə-mĕl′ə-brănk′ /

1. Any of the bivalve mollusks of the subclass Lamellibranchia, the largest group of bivalves. Lamellibranchs have gills that consist of long, folded filaments with cilia at the end that draw in water for respiration and also filter food particles. Lamellibranchs include clams, scallops, and oysters.

2. In former classifications, any bivalve mollusk.

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Other Word Forms

• lamellibranchiate adjective

Etymology

Origin of lamellibranch

1850–55; < New Latin Lamellibranchia group name. See lamelli-, -branch ( def. )