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
Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with warm weather foods like salads and seafood including scallops, sushi, mussels, and shrimp.
—
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 May 2024
After ten years, a mussel monoculture dominated the shore.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
With up to 10,000 mussels per square meter, quagga mussels have the potential to filter the entire lake in about 10 days, Bootsma said.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Often farmed next to oysters and mussels, kelp can be used for a multitude of purposes, including both food and cosmetic applications.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2024
The menu includes the requisite shellfish, on ice or broiled, as well as mussels, snapper ceviche and shrimp cocktail.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Look for items such as a buttery flatbread topped with escargots, smoked bacon and lemon; rigatoni in a crab pomodoro sauce; mussels in a merguez-and-saffron broth; and chocolate mousse.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
After 15 minutes of cooking, nestle the shrimp, mussels and calamari rings in the rice mixture.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Frogs, snakes, mussels, and earthworms were also impacted.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 May 2024
After ten years, a mussel monoculture dominated the shore.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
With up to 10,000 mussels per square meter, quagga mussels have the potential to filter the entire lake in about 10 days, Bootsma said.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Often farmed next to oysters and mussels, kelp can be used for a multitude of purposes, including both food and cosmetic applications.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2024
The menu includes the requisite shellfish, on ice or broiled, as well as mussels, snapper ceviche and shrimp cocktail.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Look for items such as a buttery flatbread topped with escargots, smoked bacon and lemon; rigatoni in a crab pomodoro sauce; mussels in a merguez-and-saffron broth; and chocolate mousse.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
After 15 minutes of cooking, nestle the shrimp, mussels and calamari rings in the rice mixture.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Frogs, snakes, mussels, and earthworms were also impacted.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mussel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Mussel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mussel. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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