Definition of oyster
1a : any of various marine bivalve mollusks (family Ostreidae) that have a rough irregular shell closed by a single adductor muscle and include commercially important shellfishb : any of various mollusks resembling or related to the oysters
2 : something that is or can be readily made to serve one's personal ends the world was her oyster
3 : a small mass of muscle contained in a concavity of the pelvic bone on each side of the back of a fowl
4 : an extremely taciturn person
5 : a grayish-white color
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Origin and Etymology of oyster
Middle English oistre, from Anglo-French, from Latin ostrea, from Greek ostreon; akin to Greek ostrakon shell, osteon bone — more at osseous
First Known Use: 13th century
OYSTER Defined for English Language Learners
oyster
playDefinition of oyster for English Language Learners
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: a type of shellfish that has a rough shell with two parts and that is eaten both cooked and raw
OYSTER Defined for Kids
oyster
playDefinition of oyster for Students
: a shellfish that lives on stony bottoms (oyster beds) in shallow seawater, has a rough grayish shell made up of two hinged parts, and is often used for food
Learn More about oyster
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See words that rhyme with oyster Spanish Central: Translation of oyster Nglish: Translation of oyster for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oyster for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oyster
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