Any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell, broadly known as shellfish.
Mollusca, meaning “soft-bodied,” is one of the largest phylums in the animal kingdom. The word mollusc (or mollusk) derives from the Latin word “mollis,” which means “soft.” There are an estimated 200,000 species of mollusk worldwide accounting for nearly a quarter of all marine life. Mollusca is the term for the phylum of animals containing mollusks. It is very diverse and contains many marine and freshwater organisms. Examples of mollusks are snails, octopus, mussels. Hypernyms (mollusk is a kind of...): invertebrate (any animal lacking a backbone or notochord; the term is not used as a scientific classification). Meronyms (parts of mollusk): carapace; cuticle; shell; shield (hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles). mol·lusk. n. Any of numerous chiefly marine invertebrates of the phylum Mollusca, typically having a soft unsegmented body, a mantle, and a protective calcareous shell, and including the snails, clams, and squids. [French. Full Definition of MOLLUSK. : any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell; broadly: shellfish. — mol·lus·can also mol·lus·kan \mə-ˈləs-kən, mae-\ mä. Adjective see mollusk defined For-english language. learners
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