gastropod

noun

gas·tro·pod | \ ˈga-strə-ˌpäd

How to pronounce gastropod (audio)

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Definition of gastropod

: any of a large class (Gastropoda) of mollusks (such as snails and slugs) usually with a univalve shell or none and a distinct head bearing sensory organs

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Examples of gastropod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ranger explained the anatomy and diet of the slug to Cleveland and the group of young campers, and asked if any of them was brave enough to kiss the slimy gastropod. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "‘We hike to heal’: Utahn encourages people of color to explore the outdoors," 16 Sep. 2020 The lovesick gastropod was a garden snail called Jeremy, named after the reportedly garden-loving, left-wing UK politician Jeremy Corbyn, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Biology Letters. — Kristen Rogers, CNN, "Two lefties make a right, if you're a rare garden snail," 2 June 2020 The discovery of the excrement is believed to be the first case of gastropods feeding on the rust. — Maria Cramer, New York Times, "Could an Invasive Snail Save Your Morning Coffee?," 11 Mar. 2020 But a potential solution to one of the biggest threats of coffee production has been found in the bright orange excrement of a voracious gastropod called the Asian trampsnail. — Maria Cramer, New York Times, "Could an Invasive Snail Save Your Morning Coffee?," 11 Mar. 2020 Invertebrate groups that experienced diversification included horseshoe crab-like trilobites, clams, clam-like brachiopods and a group called gastropods that included snails and slugs. — Will Dunham, Washington Post, "How an ancient ‘dust-up’ altered life on Earth," 24 Sep. 2019 After that were barnacles, then gastropods [such as snails and slugs], then bivalves such as clams. — Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, "Don’t Believe the Hype: The Pumice Raft Won’t Save the Great Barrier Reef," 30 Aug. 2019 The gastropod became extinct in the wild in the 1990s. — Brittany Nader, cleveland.com, "Akron Zoo brings new exotic animals to June Curious Creatures exhibit," 15 May 2018 And a good first step is not eating raw gastropods. — National Geographic, "Why You Shouldn't Eat a Slug (In Case You Need Reasons)," 16 Mar. 2018

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

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gastropancreatic fold

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Cite this Entry

“Gastropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gastropod. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

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