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

The menu is a wonderland of seafood, from clams in white wine to seafood soup with shrimp clams and mussels. —Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Try the nori butter mussels and handmade pasta at Darlings. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025

Zebra mussels also were found this summer in DeMontroville and Olson Lakes in Lake Elmo and in Long Lake in Pine Springs, located on the northeast corner of Interstate 694 and Minnesota 36. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 Sep. 2025

Start with the larger mussels first, and lean them against the nails, hinge side up (this keeps the ash from getting inside) and the point angled toward the center of your board. —Peter Barrett, Outside, 30 Aug. 2025

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