Meaning & use

bivalve

noun·Advanced

A mollusk, such as a clam or oyster, with a shell made of two hinged parts.

See it in a sentence

The chef steamed a dozen bivalves and served them with garlic butter and bread.

Scientists study bivalves to track pollution levels because the shellfish filter large volumes of water.

A note on using this word

Common bivalves include clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops; the term describes the two-part shell structure.

Words with a similar meaning

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