oyster

[ oi-ster ]

noun

1. any of several edible, marine, bivalve mollusks of the family Ostreidae, having an irregularly shaped shell, occurring on the bottom or adhering to rocks or other objects in shallow water.
2. the oyster-shaped bit of dark meat in the front hollow of the side bone of a fowl.
3. Slang. a closemouthed or uncommunicative person, especially one who keeps secrets well.
4. something from which a person may extract or derive advantage:

   The world is my oyster.

5. oyster white.

verb (used without object)

1. to dredge for or otherwise take oysters.

oyster

/ ˈɔɪstə /

noun

1. 1. any edible marine bivalve mollusc of the genus Ostrea, having a rough irregularly shaped shell and occurring on the sea bed, mostly in coastal waters
   2. ( as modifier )

      oyster farm

      oyster knife

2. any of various similar and related molluscs, such as the pearl oyster and the saddle oyster ( Anomia ephippium )
3. the oyster-shaped piece of dark meat in the hollow of the pelvic bone of a fowl
4. something from which advantage, delight, profit, etc, may be derived

   the world is his oyster

5. informal.
   a very uncommunicative person

verb

1. intr to dredge for, gather, or raise oysters

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyster¹

1325–75; Middle English oistre < Middle French < Latin ostrea < Greek óstreon; ostracize

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyster¹

C14 oistre, from Old French uistre, from Latin ostrea, from Greek ostreon; related to Greek osteon bone, ostrakon shell

Idioms and Phrases

see world is one's oyster .

Example Sentences

And when he was seen sharing a car with Gordon Brown and stopping off at a Scottish oyster bar, the rumours that Tony Blair was about to stand down intensified.

From BBC

It comes down to the two main ingredients: oysters and artichokes pairing so exceptionally well.

From Salon

Don’t skip the oysters, the stuffed spider crab, or the roasted leeks.

From Salon

Nelson’s is great for ceviche and a skirt steak sandwich in a relaxed atmosphere with a view of the ocean, while Mar’sel is oysters and Dover sole.

From Los Angeles Times

“For example, when you look at oyster shells, they have an iridescence of pearly green and blue, and that’s definitely from minerals like copper,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clam
• conch
• crawfish
• crustacean
• lobster
• mollusk
• mussel
• prawn
• scallop
• shrimp
• snail