oyster

noun

oys·​ter ˈȯi-stər How to pronounce oyster (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: any of various marine bivalve mollusks (family Ostreidae) that have a rough irregular shell closed by a single adductor muscle and include commercially important shellfish
b
: any of various mollusks resembling or related to the oysters
2
: something that is or can be readily made to serve one's personal ends
the world was her oyster
3
: a small mass of muscle contained in a concavity of the pelvic bone on each side of the back of a fowl
4
: an extremely taciturn person
5
: a grayish-white color

Examples of oyster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The al fresco drinking hole complements its champagne cocktails and rare single malts by the glass with Caspian Sea caviar, oysters on the half shell, Wagyu beef skewers, and truffled French fries. Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 There’s also a pizza topped with shrimp and bacon, a take on a Reuben sandwich made with fish in place of corned beef, and fried oysters tossed in buffalo sauce and blue cheese. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025 Birds, fish, oysters and ocean floor habitat all suffered massive losses and damage. Daniel Moss, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2025 Read the full Taurus Daily Horoscope Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The world may feel like your oyster until your subconscious gets involved. Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oyster

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oistre, borrowed from Anglo-French oistre, ostre, going back to Latin ostrea, ostreum "bivalve mollusk, oyster," borrowed from Greek óstreion, óstreon, of uncertain origin

Note: Greek óstreion has traditionally been taken to be a derivative, with a suffix -ei-, of a stem going back to Indo-European *h3esth1-r-, from the base *h3esth1- "bone." See note at ostracon.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of oyster was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Oyster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oyster. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

oyster

noun
oys·​ter ˈȯi-stər How to pronounce oyster (audio)
: any of various marine mollusks that include important edible shellfish and have a rough uneven shell made up of two hinged parts and closed by a single muscle

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