oyster

noun

oys·​ter ˈȯi-stər 

often attributive

1

a

: any of various marine bivalve mollusks (family Ostreidae) that have a rough irregular shell closed by a single adductor muscle and include commercially important shellfish

b

: 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

Examples of oyster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Slurp oysters at the Lewes Oyster House, a throwback to the 18th-century taverns that sprung up along the mid-Atlantic coast during colonial times. —Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025

Both nostalgic and forward-thinking, its menu of throwback fine-dining dishes includes oysters Rockefeller, a late 19th-century invention, and steak Diane, which ruled restaurants in the mid-1900s. —Candice Woo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025

The dining party included the Giants’ quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen, who indulged in delicacies such as calamari, clams and oysters. —Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025

For ribeye, oysters and shrimp tacos, try Taylor’s Cove, another waterfront spot with live music on the weekends. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oistre, borrowed from Anglo-French oistre, ostre, going back to Latin ostrea, ostreum "bivalve mollusk, oyster," borrowed from Greek óstreion, óstreon, of uncertain origin

Note: Greek óstreion has traditionally been taken to be a derivative, with a suffix -ei-, of a stem going back to Indo-European *h₃esth₁-r-, from the base *h₃esth₁- "bone." See note at ostracon.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing oyster

• European flat oyster
• European oyster
• Olympia oyster
• oyster bed
• oyster crab
• oyster cracker
• oyster drill
• oyster mushroom
• oyster plant
• seed oyster
• the world is someone's oyster
• vegetable oyster

Rhymes for oyster

• cloister
• moister
• royster

Kids Definition

oyster

noun

oys·​ter ˈȯi-stər 

: any of various marine mollusks that include important edible shellfish and have a rough uneven shell made up of two hinged parts and closed by a single muscle