Mollusk

Definition

Mollusk (also spelled mollusc) refers to any member of the large phylum Mollusca of invertebrate animals, characterized by a soft body often protected by a hard shell; it includes snails, clams, squid, and octopuses. Its plural form is mollusks (or molluscs).

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA: /ˈmɑː.ləsk/
• Respelling: MAH-lusk

British English

• IPA: /ˈmɒl.ʌsk/ or /ˈmɒl.əsk/
• Respelling: MOL-usk

Etymology

Late 17th century: from French mollusque, from Latin molluscus ‘soft,’ from mollis ‘soft’.

Derivatives

• molluscan (adjective)
• molluscan (noun: a mollusk or mollusc specialist)
• molluscology (noun)

Synonyms

• univalve (subset: snails)
• bivalve (subset: clams, oysters)
• cephalopod (subset: octopus, squid)

Antonyms

• vertebrate
• arthropod

Usage

"The tide pool teemed with small mollusks like snails and limpets."

"Researchers study mollusks to understand evolutionary adaptations of soft-bodied animals."

Related Terms

• Mollusca: The phylum comprising all mollusks.
• Bivalvia: The class of bivalve mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters).
• Gastropoda: The class of gastropods (snails, slugs).
• Cephalopoda: The class of cephalopods (octopuses, squids).
• Exoskeleton: A hard outer shell in many mollusks.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• An invertebrate animal of the phylum Mollusca – featuring a soft body, often with a calcareous shell.
  • Example: "Snails and slugs are common terrestrial mollusks."
• A member of various mollusk classes:
  • Gastropod: Snails and slugs with a single shell or none.
    • Example: "Garden mollusks include snails that feed on plants."
  • Bivalve: Clams, oysters, scallops with two-part shells.
    • Example: "The chef shucked fresh mollusks for the seafood platter."
  • Cephalopod: Octopuses, squids with tentacles and a reduced or internal shell.
    • Example: "Squid and octopus are cephalopod mollusks prized for their intelligence."