English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

scallop

SKO-luhp

Scallop (noun) means an edible marine shellfish with a distinctive fan-shaped, ridged shell. Example: “They ordered pan-seared scallops as a starter.”

noun
1
An edible marine shellfish with a distinctive fan-shaped, ridged shell.
"They ordered pan-seared scallops as a starter."
2
A curved, wavy edge shaped like the rim of a scallop shell, used in sewing or decoration.
"The blanket had a pretty scalloped edge."
verb
1
To shape the edge of something into a series of curves.
"She scalloped the edges of the pie crust before baking."

How to use scallop

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMainly the shellfish, but also the wavy, curved-edge decorative pattern named after its shell.

Common pairings
seared scallops scalloped edge scallop shell

Word forms

scalloped past tense, scallops plural, scallops singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “scallop” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They ordered pan-seared _____ as a starter.

Etymology

From Old French escalope, "shell," a doublet of "escalope" and related to "scale" and "shell."

Origin: Old French

Related words

Rhymes for scallop

See all rhymes for scallop →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scallop” mean?

The word “scallop” means an edible marine shellfish with a distinctive fan-shaped, ridged shell. In plain terms, mainly the shellfish, but also the wavy, curved-edge decorative pattern named after its shell.

How do you pronounce “scallop”?

“Scallop” is pronounced SKO-luhp (/ˈskɑləp/ in IPA).

How do you use “scallop” in a sentence?

Here is “scallop” used in a sentence: “They ordered pan-seared scallops as a starter.”

What part of speech is “scallop”?

Depending on how it is used, “scallop” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “scallop” come from?

The word “scallop” comes from Old French. From Old French escalope, "shell," a doublet of "escalope" and related to "scale" and "shell.".

How many meanings does “scallop” have?

“Scallop” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an edible marine shellfish with a distinctive fan-shaped, ridged shell.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial