zebra mussel

noun

: a chiefly freshwater Eurasian bivalve mollusk (Dreissena polymorpha) that was accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes and has spread to other waterways where it colonizes and clogs water intake pipes and competes with native fish for food

Examples of zebra mussel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There, zebra mussels and quagga mussels have thrived and caused a major decline in the yellow perch fishery. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024 Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials on Tuesday announced the discovery of zebra mussel larvae in the river east of Grand Junction. Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 18 July 2024 But a sample in the outer harbor only got a few shells, because zebra mussels cannot survive in the sandy bottom. Siddhant Pusdekar, Journal Sentinel, 16 July 2024 And reassuring, after what seemed like dire zebra mussel news last month from the Rocky Mountains. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for zebra mussel 

Word History

Etymology

so named from a comparison of the irregular dark striping on the shell to a zebra's stripes

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zebra mussel was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near zebra mussel

Cite this Entry

“Zebra mussel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zebra%20mussel. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on zebra mussel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!