noun
mussel
MUH-suhl
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.”
noun
1
A bivalve shellfish with a dark, elongated shell, found in both fresh and salt water and often eaten as seafood.
"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.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with muscle (body tissue) — they sound identical but are spelled differently and come from unrelated senses of the same Latin root.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mussels and chips
a bag of mussels
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Word forms
- Plural
- mussels
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.
