claire
Claire (noun) means a small enclosed pond used to gather and freshen oysters before sale. Example: “The oysters were left to green in the claire for a few weeks.”
How to use claire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shallow oyster pond used in traditional French oyster farming; also a common given name.
Word forms
claires plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The oysters were left to green in the _____ for a few weeks.
Etymology
From French claire, the feminine form of clair ("clear").
Rhymes for claire
See all rhymes for claire →Frequently asked questions
What does “claire” mean?
The word “claire” means a small enclosed pond used to gather and freshen oysters before sale. In plain terms, a shallow oyster pond used in traditional French oyster farming; also a common given name.
How do you pronounce “claire”?
“Claire” is pronounced KLEH-uh (/ˈklɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “claire” in a sentence?
Here is “claire” used in a sentence: “The oysters were left to green in the claire for a few weeks.”
What part of speech is “claire”?
“Claire” is a noun.
Where does the word “claire” come from?
The word “claire” comes from French. From French claire, the feminine form of clair ("clear").
Is “claire” a common word?
“Claire” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a claire and an oyster bed?
An oyster bed is the area of seabed or shore where oysters live and grow, while a claire is a small enclosed pond where harvested oysters are gathered and freshened before sale. In short, oysters grow on beds and are finished in claires.
Why are some oysters sold as fines de claires?
Fines de claires are oysters that have been matured in claires, the small enclosed ponds used to gather and freshen oysters before they go to market. The label is borrowed from French oyster farming and signals this finishing stage.
Is claire capitalized when it refers to an oyster pond?
No. As the term for an oyster pond, claire is a common noun and is written in lower case. It takes a capital letter only as the personal name Claire or at the start of a sentence.