abalone

noun

ab·​a·​lo·​ne ˌa-bə-ˈlō-nē How to pronounce abalone (audio) ˈa-bə-ˌlō-nē How to pronounce abalone (audio)
: any of a genus (Haliotis) of edible rock-clinging gastropod mollusks that have a flattened shell slightly spiral in form, lined with mother-of-pearl, and with a row of apertures along its outer edge

Examples of abalone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary protects beaches and shorelines, and also extends 60 miles into the Pacific Ocean, safeguarding a variety of flora, like dense kelp forests, and fauna, including leopard and horn sharks, blue whales, and black abalone. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025 The abalone could not be returned to the ocean and were destroyed, police said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025 However, deputies also uncovered an unexpected aquatic trove: 35 live abalone, a northwestern pond turtle, wet clothing and tools apparently used to pry abalone from rocks, authorities said in a statement. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 Officers also found wet clothing and tools used to remove abalone from rocks in the vehicle, police said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abalone

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish abulón, from Rumsen (American Indian language of Monterey Bay, California) aulon

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abalone was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abalone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abalone. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

abalone

noun
ab·​a·​lo·​ne ˌab-ə-ˈlō-nē How to pronounce abalone (audio) ˈab-ə-ˌ How to pronounce abalone (audio)
: a mollusk with a flattened slightly spiral shell that has holes along the edge and is lined with mother-of-pearl

More from Merriam-Webster on abalone

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