bivalve

adjective

bi·valve | \ ˈbī-ˌvalv

Definition of bivalve

(Entry 1 of 2)

: being or having a shell composed of two valves

bivalve

noun

Definition of bivalve (Entry 2 of 2)

: any of a class (Bivalvia synonym Pelecypoda) of typically marine mollusks (such as clams, oysters, or scallops) that have a 2-valved hinged shell, are usually filter feeders, and lack a distinct head

Examples of bivalve in a Sentence

Noun

clams, mussels, oysters, and other bivalves

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Deep-sea wood borers (Xylophaga, a genus of bivalve mollusks) take over where shallow water gribbles and shipworms left off. — Brian Payton, Smithsonian, "How Driftwood Reshapes Ecosystems," 9 Feb. 2018 In 2005, the oyster as aphrodisiac got a big boost as many consumer publications reported that bivalve mollusks (which include clams, oysters, mussels and scallops) had been found to have desire-inducing properties. — Alicia Ault, Smithsonian, "Are Oysters an Aphrodisiac?," 13 Feb. 2017 While the lyric connotes cozy relations between the famously fertile shellfish of this bivalve capital, feelings among shellfishermen themselves are decidedly less friendly. — Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, "Claims Over Shellfish Fuel a Battle in the Bay," 30 June 2017 In 2005, the oyster as aphrodisiac got a big boost as many consumer publications reported that bivalve mollusks (which include clams, oysters, mussels and scallops) had been found to have desire-inducing properties. — Alicia Ault, Smithsonian, "Are Oysters an Aphrodisiac?," 13 Feb. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But less welcome critters soon followed: sea lampreys, alewives, spiny water fleas, and the poster bivalves for ecological trouble, zebra and quagga mussels. — Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee loves its rivers and Lake Michigan — and keeps abusing them, too," 3 July 2018 Also, on Saturday afternoon, one lucky bivalve will be chosen as the largest oyster at the fest. — Ann Maloney, NOLA.com, "New Orleans Oyster Festival dishes dozens of bivalve bites," 29 May 2018 To celebrate, the town of Arcata hosts a bivalve bacchanalia each June, usually on Father’s Day, in which revelers slurp down some 100,000 oysters and spend almost $1 million. — Richard Stenger, SFChronicle.com, "Everything you need to know about the oyster capital of California," 3 July 2018 Forty dozen bivalves were eaten in eight minutes by the winner of this year's World Oyster Eating Championship at the Oyster Festival in New Orleans. — Chris Granger, NOLA.com, "Could you eat 480 oysters in 8 minutes? The World Oyster Eating champion did: See photos," 3 June 2018 The menu boasts many fresh catches, including the bay’s signature bivalves, whether in shooters, stews or omelets, grilled or raw on the half shell. — Richard Stenger, SFChronicle.com, "Everything you need to know about the oyster capital of California," 3 July 2018 Classic oyster service from the raw bar features east- and west-coast bivalves ably shucked with minimal damage to the creatures or their shells. — Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, "Fisk & Co. flexes its mussels," 24 May 2018 The selection of bivalves rotates weekly, but local Hog Island oysters on the half-shell are a menu staple, naturally. — Sunset, "One Perfect Day in Petaluma, CA," 22 Jan. 2018 These tasty bivalves are a favorite around these parts, and with good reason. — Rochelle Bilow, Bon Appetit, "How to Cook Mussels Like Some Kind of Professional Mussel-Cooker," 9 Apr. 2018

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