Definition of mussel Mussel

/mʌˈsʌl/ - [musul] - mus•sel

We found 7 definitions of mussel from 5 different sources.

What does mussel mean?

Noun Plural: mussels
mussel - marine or freshwater bivalve mollusk that lives attached to rocks etc.
		bivalve, lamellibranch, pelecypod marine or freshwater mollusks having a soft body with platelike gills enclosed within two shells hinged together
		marine mussel, mytilid marine bivalve mollusk having a dark elongated shell; live attached to solid objects especially in intertidal zones
mussel - black marine bivalves usually steamed in wine
		shellfish meat of edible aquatic invertebrate with a shell (especially a mollusk or crustacean)

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mussel (Noun)
A small edible bivalve shellfish of the families Unionidae fresh water mussels and Mytilidae salt water mussels.

mussel (n.)
Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytidae. The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.
mussel (n.)
Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; -- called also river mussel. See Naiad, and Unio.

The term mussel is used for several families of bivalve molluscs. Mussels live in lakes, rivers, and creeks. The sometimes also live in intertidal areas along coastlines worldwide. The freshwater mussels (several allied families, the largest being the Unionidae) and saltwater mussels (family Mytilidae) are not closely related, despite the fact that they may look similar. They are grouped in different subclasses. The freshwater Zebra mussels and their relatives (family Dreissenidae) live attached to rocks in a manner similar to marine mussels, but are classified with the Heterodonta, the taxonomic group including most bivalves referred to as "clams".

From archeology, it is known that humans have been eating mussels for thousands of years. They can be cooked or eaten raw. Care must be taken however as mussels quickly become poisonous after they die.

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mussel in sign language