mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈmə-səl 

1

: a marine bivalve mollusk (especially genus Mytilus) usually having a dark elongated shell

2

: a freshwater bivalve mollusk (as of Unio, Anodonta, or related genera) that is especially abundant in rivers of the central U.S. and has a shell lined with mother-of-pearl

Examples of mussel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For instance, bighead and silver carp eat plankton and native mussels, leaving native fish to go hungry. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024

But there are plenty of seafood offerings on the menu as well, including Chilean sea bass, Diver scallops, sauteed tiger prawns and black mussels with chorizo. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024

The water rats may have started feasting on harder animals like crayfish and mussels, which pushed monotremes toward softer foods like shrimp and worms. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2024

Climate change is causing various ant species of Colorado’s Gregory Canyon to alter their traditional ranges, the shells of East Coast mussels to grow more porous, herring to arrive earlier in the Wadden Sea, and Australian scientists to urge the breeding of less flatulent cows. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Vulgar Latin *muscula, from Latin musculus muscle, mussel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mussel

• blue mussel
• quagga mussel
• zebra mussel

Kids Definition

mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈməs-əl 

1

: any of various edible saltwater mollusks with a long dark hinged double shell

2

: any of numerous freshwater mollusks of rivers of the central U.S. whose hinged double shells are lined with mother-of-pearl