univalve

American  

[yoo-nuh-valv] / ˈyu nəˌvælv /

adjective

1. having one valve.

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

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noun

1. a univalve mollusk or its shell.

univalve British  

/ ˈjuːnɪˌvælv /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a gastropod mollusc or its shell

univalve Scientific  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of univalve

First recorded in 1655–65; uni- + valve

Example Sentences

The Scalaria pretiosa, a very elegant univalve shell, much valued by collectors.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

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

From Zoological Illustrations, Volume I or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals by Swainson, William

Periwinkle, per′i-wingk-l, n. a small univalve mollusc: a small shellfish, abundant between tide-marks on the rocks, boiled and eaten as food.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

It is divided into three groups, the multivalve shells, or those which consist of several pieces; the bivalve, of two pieces; and the univalve, or those of one piece only.

From Lives of Eminent Zoologists, from Aristotle to Linnæus with Introductory remarks on the Study of Natural History by MacGillivray, William

At certain seasons the soldier-crabs resort to the sea-shore, and then return from their pilgrimage, each carrying with them, or rather dragging, the shell of some marine univalve for many a weary mile.

From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir