Gryphaea

noun

Gry·​phaea

grə̇ˈfēə,

grīˈ-

1

: a genus of fossil mollusks related to the oyster but having the left valve arched with an incurved beak and the right valve flat

2

in some classifications : crassostrea

gryphaeoid

ˈgrifēˌȯid

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin gryphus or gryph-, gryps griffin

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!