mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈmə-səl 

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

Two local governments in California have voted to declare a local emergency over the invasive golden mussels that are rapidly multiplying and clogging water pipes. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 29 May 2026

This Mediterranean seafood restaurant serves up mouth-watering Spanish rice, octopus, and fresh mussels, along with gourmet pizza. —Aileen Weintraub, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026

For at least 100,000 years, humans have lived alongside this ecosystem, foraging limpets and mussels from tidal pools and diving through the kelp for pearlescent abalone and fish. —Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026

The menu has a range of tapas on offer, including mussels, tuna, Spanish tortilla, and Iberian pork—there’s something for everyone here. —Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Vulgar Latin *muscula, from Latin musculus muscle, mussel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mussel

• blue mussel
• quagga mussel
• zebra mussel

Rhymes for mussel

• bustle
• hustle
• muscle
• russel
• rustle
• trussell
• tussle
• mofussil

Kids Definition

mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈməs-əl 

1

: any of various edible saltwater mollusks with a long dark hinged double shell

2

: any of numerous freshwater mollusks of rivers of the central U.S. whose hinged double shells are lined with mother-of-pearl