univalve

[ yoo-nuh-valv ]

adjective

1. having one valve.
2. (of a shell) composed of a single valve or piece.

noun

1. a univalve mollusk or its shell.

univalve

/ ˈjuːnɪˌvælv /

adjective

1. relating to, designating, or possessing a mollusc shell that consists of a single piece (valve)

noun

1. a gastropod mollusc or its shell

univalve

/ yo̅o̅′nĭ-vălv′ /

1. A gastropod, especially one with a single shell, such as a snail, cone, whelk, abalone, or limpet. Univalves belong to the subclass Prosobranchia. Their shells are usually spiral and can hold the whole animal inside.
2. Compare bivalve

Word History and Origins

Origin of univalve¹

First recorded in 1655–65; uni- + valve

Example Sentences

Slate noted that Marcel the Shell’s voice is “so little, so little,” but as Conan points out the adorable univalve sure has some “big lungs.”

From Time

It’s Marcel’s first video since 2011 and it seems that the happy little univalve was brought out of retirement to help promote his latest children’s book, Marcel the Shell: The Most Surprised I’ve Ever Been.

From Time

Shell univalve, greatly depressed, broad, ear-shaped, the disk with many perforations.

From Project Gutenberg

Shell univalve, turbinated, inversely conic, convolute; aperture longitudinal, narrow, not toothed; base effuse; spire very short.

From Project Gutenberg

A genus of fossil univalve shells, believed to belong to the Heteropoda, peculiar to the Paleozoic age.

From Project Gutenberg