mussel

noun

mus·sel | \ ˈmə-səl

How to pronounce mussel (audio)

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Definition of mussel

1 : a marine bivalve mollusk (especially genus Mytilus) usually having a dark elongated shell

2 : a freshwater bivalve mollusk (as of Unio, Anodonta, or related genera) that is especially abundant in rivers of the central U.S. and has a shell lined with mother-of-pearl

Examples of mussel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are, however, favorable aspects of the license approved by the FERC, Prost said, such as the programs to promote mussel restoration, fish and eel passage, turtle management and waterfowl nesting. — Washington Post, "New 50-year Conowingo Dam license gets federal okay," 31 Mar. 2021 In Alberta, Canada, mussel-sniffing dogs are trotted out at highway checkpoints, Enders notes. — Jessica Leigh Hester, Wired, "The Feds Want You to Destroy This Sneaky Mussel’s Hiding Spot," 27 Mar. 2021 In New York’s Lake George, for example, a team successfully evicted a fledgling mussel population by quarantining the entire lake and dispatching divers to remove them manually. — Jessica Leigh Hester, Wired, "The Feds Want You to Destroy This Sneaky Mussel’s Hiding Spot," 27 Mar. 2021 There are, however, favorable aspects of the license approved by FERC, Prost said, such as the programs to promote mussel restoration, fish and eel passage, turtle management and waterfowl nesting. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, "New 50-year Conowingo Dam license gets federal OK, but environmental groups worry it won’t do enough to stop pollution overflows," 26 Mar. 2021 The smallest mussel can be less than an inch, the larger ones topping 4½ inches. — Morgan Greene, chicagotribune.com, "They’re not otters, but endangered mussels in Illinois play a crucial role as environmental sentinels. ‘They all have a story to tell.’," 25 Sep. 2020 Analysis of the engraving, made on a freshwater mussel shell, suggests that its maker used a shark tooth or another hard, pointed object to create the zigzag design. — The Editors, Scientific American, "Scientific American's Top 10 Science Stories of 2014," 12 Dec. 2014 The arrowheads are made of a range of materials, including bone, slate, iron and mussel shell. — Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, "Melting Ice in Norway Reveals Ancient Arrows," 27 Nov. 2020 One mussel could filter 5 to 10 gallons per day, Inoue said. — Morgan Greene, chicagotribune.com, "They’re not otters, but endangered mussels in Illinois play a crucial role as environmental sentinels. ‘They all have a story to tell.’," 25 Sep. 2020

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

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Last Updated

9 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Mussel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mussel. Accessed 13 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for mussel

mussel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of mussel

: a type of shellfish that has a long dark shell

See the full definition for mussel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mussel

noun

mus·sel | \ ˈmə-səl

\

Kids Definition of mussel

1 : a saltwater shellfish that has a long dark shell in two parts and is sometimes used as food

2 : a freshwater clam of the United States with shells from which mother-of-pearl is obtained

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