mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk ˈmä-ləsk 

variants or mollusc

: any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (such as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell

broadly : shellfish

molluscan adjective

or less commonly molluskan

mə-ˈlə-skən 

mä-

Examples of mollusk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jessica Goodheart is an assistant curator of malacology (the study of mollusks) at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. —Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Their diet consists of small fish, mollusks, crustaceans and sometimes bigger species like dolphins or sea lions. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

His bill is small, yet strong—perfect for grubbing about underwater for aquatic bugs, worms, snails, crayfish, and small mollusks. —M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023

The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

As far back as 200 million years ago, the fossil record shows us that hermit crabs were already tooling around shopping for homes discarded by mollusks. —Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024

These female free divers scour the ocean for edible jewels like seaweed, lobster, and mollusks and grill their fresh catch in an amagoya hut. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2023

Sentinel oysters and other bivalve mollusks are now monitoring ocean water quality and environmental degradation in multiple locations around the globe. —John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

Chitons, small mollusks that live on intertidal rocks and in the deep sea, are like little tanks protected by eight shell plates — a body plan that’s remained relatively stable for some 300 million years. —Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French mollusque, from New Latin Mollusca, from Latin, neuter plural of molluscus thin-shelled (of a nut), from mollis

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk

variants or mollusc

ˈmäl-əsk 

: any of a large phylum of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, and octopuses) with a soft body lacking segments and usually enclosed in a shell containing calcium

molluscan adjective

also molluskan

mə-ˈləs-kən 

mä-

Medical Definition

mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk

variants or mollusc

ˈmäl-əsk 

: any invertebrate animal of the phylum Mollusca

molluscan adjective

also molluskan

mə-ˈles-kən, mä-