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

Living mollusks come in a wide array of forms–snails, clams, and highly intelligent cephalopods like squids and octopuses. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Aug. 2024

Once collected, the snails had to be kept alive until the purple dye makers were ready to crush them and extract the mollusk’s mucus glands. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 26 June 2024

Many species eat mollusks, worms and other invertebrates that hide under the sand of the seafloor. —Jeanne Timmons, Scientific American, 19 July 2024

Scallops, scientifically known as Pectinidae, are a type of bivalve mollusk from the ocean with an inner, edible muscle enclosed within two outer shells. —Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 16 July 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-