Illustration of scallop
- scallop 2a
1
a
: any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves
b
: the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food
2
a
: a valve or shell of a scallop
b
: a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop
3
: one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)
4
: pattypan
5
[French escalope, probably from Middle French, shell]
: a thin slice of boneless meat or fish
veal scallops
called also escalope
variants
or less commonly scollop
scalloped also scolloped; scalloping also scolloping; scallops also scollops
1
a
: to shape, cut, or finish in scallops
b
: to form scallops in
2
[from the use of a scallop shell as a baking dish]
: to bake in a sauce usually covered with seasoned bread or cracker crumbs
scalloped potatoes
: to gather or dredge scallops
Examples of scallop in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Sweet scallops could be today's version of chevron.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 4 Feb. 2026
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Silken diver scallops bed down in kombu with leek vinaigrette and Champagne sauce.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scallop
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Noun
Feast options include a 4-pound Lazy Man’s Maine Lobster, featuring fresh Maine lobster that is cooked, cracked, shelled and tossed in warm butter and white wine, then stuffed with sautéed shrimp and scallops and finished with Hollandaise.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Sweet scallops could be today's version of chevron.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The 62-year-old actress’s NSFW LBD was made out of completely sheer lace with a high-low design, a dramatic train that trailed several feet behind her, and scalloped detailing around her plunging neckline.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Silken diver scallops bed down in kombu with leek vinaigrette and Champagne sauce.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scallop
Cite this Entry
“Scallop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scallop. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scallop
2 of 2 verb1
: to bake in a sauce usually covered with seasoned bread or cracker crumbs
scalloped potatoes
2
: to shape, cut, or make an edge in scallops
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