Definition

Noun: 1. An invertebrate animal with a soft, unsegmented body, typically protected by a hard shell: A mollusc is a member of a large phylum (Mollusca) of animals that usually have a muscular foot for movement and a mantle that may secrete a shell. Examples include snails, clams, octopuses, and squids.

Usage

The word "mollusc" (also spelled "mollusk") is a scientific and general term used in biology and zoology to categorize a specific group of animals. It is a countable noun.

Examples

• General Use:
  • The seashore is rich with various molluscs, such as mussels and periwinkles.
  • A snail is a common garden mollusc.
• Scientific/Biological Context:
  • The study of molluscs is called malacology.
  • The giant squid is the largest known mollusc.

Advanced Usage

• "Mollusc" in a Broader Sense: The term can be used to refer to the entire phylum or to any individual member of it.
  • The phylum Mollusca is one of the most diverse in the animal kingdom.

Variants and Related Words

• Mollusk: The alternative, chiefly American English spelling of "mollusc".
• Molluscan (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of molluscs.
  • The molluscan shell was beautifully patterned.
• Malacology (noun): The branch of zoology that deals with molluscs.

Synonyms

• Shellfish (Note: This is a looser, culinary term that includes some crustaceans like shrimp, which are not molluscs. It is not a perfect synonym.)
• Bivalve (for molluscs with two shells, like clams)
• Gastropod (for molluscs like snails and slugs)

Different Meanings

The word "mollusc" has a single, specific zoological meaning and does not have common idiomatic or metaphorical uses. Its meaning is consistently tied to the biological definition.

Noun

1. invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell