scallop

[ skol-uhp, skal- ]
See synonyms for: scallopscallopedscalloping on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. any of the bivalve mollusks of the genus Argopecten (Pecten) and related genera that swim by rapidly clapping the fluted shell valves together.

  2. the adductor muscle of certain species of such mollusks, used as food.

  1. one of the shells of such a mollusk, usually having radial ribs and a wavy outer edge.

  2. a scallop shell or a dish in which food, especially seafood, is baked and served.

  3. Cooking. a thin slice of meat, usually further flattened by pounding with a mallet or other implement.

  4. any of a series of curved projections cut along the edge, as of a fabric.

verb (used with object)
  1. to finish (an edge) with scallops.

  2. Cooking. to escallop.

verb (used without object)
  1. to dredge for scallops.

Origin of scallop

1
1350–1400; Middle English scalop, aphetic variant of escal(l)op escallop; sense “thin slice of meat” probably by association with French escalope escalope
  • Also scol·lop [skol-uhp] /ˈskɒl əp/ .

Other words from scallop

  • un·scal·loped, adjective

Words Nearby scallop

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scallop in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scallop

scallop

/ (ˈskɒləp, ˈskæl-) /


noun
  1. any of various marine bivalves of the family Pectinidae, having a fluted fan-shaped shell: includes free-swimming species (genus Pecten) and species attached to a substratum (genus Chlamys): See also pecten (def. 3)

  2. the edible adductor muscle of certain of these molluscs

  1. either of the shell valves of any of these molluscs

  2. a scallop shell or similarly shaped dish, in which fish, esp shellfish, is cooked and served

  3. one of a series of curves along an edge, esp an edge of cloth

  4. the shape of a scallop shell used as the badge of a pilgrim, esp in the Middle Ages

  5. mainly Australian a potato cake fried in batter

verb
  1. (tr) to decorate (an edge) with scallops

  2. to bake (food) in a scallop shell or similar dish

  1. (intr) to collect scallops

Origin of scallop

1
C14: from Old French escalope shell, of Germanic origin; see scalp

Derived forms of scallop

  • scalloper, noun
  • scalloping, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012