abalone

noun

ab·​a·​lo·​ne ˌa-bə-ˈlō-nē  ˈa-bə-ˌlō-nē 

: any of a genus (Haliotis) of edible rock-clinging gastropod mollusks that have a flattened shell slightly spiral in form, lined with mother-of-pearl, and with a row of apertures along its outer edge

Examples of abalone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The otters’ most common tool is a rock, which the animals use to crack open abalone shells to get to the tender meat inside. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024

Here are a few examples: Tracing where Indigenous fisherfolk collected black abalone for over 10,000 years can guide restoration efforts for this endangered species. —Todd Braje, The Conversation, 16 May 2024

For one thing, the place serves abalone and curries. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Seeing the different spins on classic Taiwanese dishes was such a delight—from the caviar and milk bread to the abalone in egg custard to the A5 wagyu (reminded me of Tawainese beef noodle soup!). —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish abulón, from Rumsen (American Indian language of Monterey Bay, California) aulon

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

abalone

noun

ab·​a·​lo·​ne ˌab-ə-ˈlō-nē  ˈab-ə-ˌ 

: a mollusk with a flattened slightly spiral shell that has holes along the edge and is lined with mother-of-pearl