mussel
Mussel (noun) means a bivalve shellfish with a dark, elongated shell, found in both fresh and salt water and often eaten as seafood. Example: “They ordered a pot of mussels steamed in white wine and garlic.”
How to use mussel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shellfish with a dark oval shell, popular in seafood dishes.
Don't confuse with muscle (body tissue) — they sound identical but are spelled differently and come from unrelated senses of the same Latin root.
Word forms
mussels plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They ordered a pot of _____ steamed in white wine and garlic.
Etymology
From Old English muscle, ultimately from Latin musculus ("mussel" or "little mouse") — the same root that gives us the word muscle.
Rhymes for mussel
See all rhymes for mussel →Frequently asked questions
What does “mussel” mean?
The word “mussel” means a bivalve shellfish with a dark, elongated shell, found in both fresh and salt water and often eaten as seafood. In plain terms, a shellfish with a dark oval shell, popular in seafood dishes.
How do you pronounce “mussel”?
“Mussel” is pronounced MUH-suhl (/ˈmʌsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mussel” in a sentence?
Here is “mussel” used in a sentence: “They ordered a pot of mussels steamed in white wine and garlic.”
What part of speech is “mussel”?
“Mussel” is a noun.
Where does the word “mussel” come from?
The word “mussel” comes from Latin. From Old English muscle, ultimately from Latin musculus ("mussel" or "little mouse") — the same root that gives us the word muscle.