: 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
The town’s big, bivalve-themed bash, Wellfleet Oyster Fest, happens annually on the weekend after Columbus Day (Oct. 19 and 20 this year) along Main Street.
—BostonGlobe.com, 10 Oct. 2019
Deep-sea wood borers (Xylophaga, a genus of bivalve mollusks) take over where shallow water gribbles and shipworms left off.
—Brian Payton, Smithsonian, 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, 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, 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, 13 Feb. 2017
Noun
So there wasn’t much in the way of worms and crustaceans and bivalves and things in there to further digest it.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 25 Jan. 2023
The small, bivalve creatures also have a row of tiny blue eyes along the rim of their shells.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Less than six months later, bivalves are being slurped again.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2024
Sentinel oysters and other bivalve mollusks are now monitoring ocean water quality and environmental degradation in multiple locations around the globe.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Atlas Oyster House Anchored on Seville Harbour Marina, Atlas Oyster House is an essential stop for local seafood — including bivalves served raw, Rockefeller, or fried.
—Staff Author Published, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
While attendees would typically go in on the bivalves, everyone stayed away from them this time.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2024
After the bivalve was linked to dozens of norovirus cases in L.A. County, many have decided to stay away from raw oysters, Eater L.A. reported on Thursday.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2024
Purists may shuck and slurp them straight from the shell, but there are a bevvy of delicious ways to capitalize on the possibilities of this versatile bivalve.
—Coastal Living, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bivalve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Bivalve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bivalve. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
bivalve
1 of 2 adjective
bi·valve
ˈbī-ˌvalv
: having or being a shell composed of two movable valves
a bivalve mollusk
bivalve
2 of 2 noun
: any of a class of typically marine mollusks (as clams, oysters, and scallops) that have a shell made up of two parts joined by a hinge, are usually filter feeders, and lack a distinct head
Medical Definition
bivalve
2 of 2 transitive verb
bivalved; bivalving
: to split (a cast) along one or two sides (as to relieve pressure)
More from Merriam-Webster on bivalve
Nglish: Translation of bivalve for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bivalve
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