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
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Zebra mussels were detected in the lake, side channel and in the Colorado River where the side channel meets the river’s mainstem.
—
Ali Longwell, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Bivalve molluscs such as mussels and clams, as well as tellinas and oysters, contain significant amounts of vitamin B12 and riboflavin, as well as thiamine, niacin, and folic acid.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Highlights on the menu include linguine with clams, lobster rolls and mussels served in a variety of sauces — white wine, creamy, Provençal or with Camembert dressing, as well as ice cream, churros or pancakes for dessert.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Several companies, agriculture industry officials and conservation advocates in the news release emphasized the devastating impacts the species would have the mussels took over the Snake River.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 Sep. 2025
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Ali Longwell, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Bivalve molluscs such as mussels and clams, as well as tellinas and oysters, contain significant amounts of vitamin B12 and riboflavin, as well as thiamine, niacin, and folic acid.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Highlights on the menu include linguine with clams, lobster rolls and mussels served in a variety of sauces — white wine, creamy, Provençal or with Camembert dressing, as well as ice cream, churros or pancakes for dessert.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Several companies, agriculture industry officials and conservation advocates in the news release emphasized the devastating impacts the species would have the mussels took over the Snake River.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mussel
Cite this Entry
“Mussel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mussel. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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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