barnacle

noun

bar·na·cle | \ ˈbär-ni-kəl

Definition of barnacle

1 : barnacle goose

2 [from a popular belief that the goose grew from the crustacean] : any of numerous marine crustaceans (subclass Cirripedia) with feathery appendages for gathering food that are free-swimming as larvae but permanently fixed (as to rocks, boat hulls, or whales) as adults

Other Words from barnacle Example Sentences Learn More About barnacle

Examples of barnacle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The devices aren’t foolproof: college students in Oklahoma removed a barnacle by turning on the car defroster for 15 minutes. — John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Sep. 2021 Applied to the hull of a ship, these synthetic feathers, like their natural counterparts, would trap air, reducing drag and discouraging barnacle growth. — Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2021 In comparison, the barnacle glue formed a bond that was eight times tougher. — Max G. Levy, Wired, 24 Aug. 2021 That law is the 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), a close cousin of the Jones Act, another barnacle on maritime trade and services. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 5 July 2021 Last season, Slate’s dependably rich podcast series brought listeners to Louisiana in the ’80s and ’90s, where season host Josh Levin traced the rise of the former Klansman David Duke as a political phenomenon and culture-war barnacle. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2021 And Pollicipes polymerus may not be the only species of barnacle that does it. — Daniel Cressey, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2013 And yet some of that crusty thinking remains, like a barnacle underneath a sea lion raft, or gum underneath the table at the Hard Rock Cafe. — Peter Hartlaub, SFChronicle.com, 12 Jan. 2021 Look closer: This isn’t an ordinary male sheep crab but rather a zombie crustacean that has been invaded by a parasitic barnacle. — Nick Nichols, Photography, 8 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barnacle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.