Main Entry: mal·a·col·o·gy

Pronunciation: \ˌma-lə-ˈkä-lə-jē\

Function: noun

Etymology: French malacologie, contraction of malacozoologie, from New Latin Malacozoa, zoological group including soft-bodied animals (from Greek malakos soft + New Latin -zoa) + French -logie -logy

Date: 1836

: a branch of zoology dealing with mollusks

— mal·a·co·log·i·cal \ˌma-lə-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— mal·a·col·o·gist \ˌma-lə-ˈkä-lə-jist\ noun