Word
abalone
US/ˌæbəˈɫoʊni/
UK/ɐbˈæləʊn/
Definitions
01the sea creature
n. a type of sea snail that lives in a shell with a shiny, colourful inside.
n. any of various edible marine gastropods of the genus Haliotis, characterised by a flattened, ear-shaped shell with a row of respiratory holes.
“Divers searched the rocky coastline for abalone clinging to the underwater stones.”
“The population of wild abalone has declined significantly due to overfishing and rising ocean temperatures, leading to stricter harvesting regulations.”
Technical
Synonyms
02the food
n. the meat of this sea snail, often served as an expensive seafood dish.
n. the edible flesh of the Haliotis mollusc, typically prepared by slicing and tenderising before being sautéed or served raw.
“The restaurant served thinly sliced abalone with a light butter sauce.”
“Considered a delicacy in many East Asian cuisines, abalone is often featured at celebratory banquets and high-end seafood markets.”
Formal
03the shell material
n. the hard, shiny material inside the shell, used to make jewellery or decorations.
n. the iridescent inner layer of the shell, composed of nacre and used for decorative inlays or jewellery.
“The guitar was decorated with beautiful pieces of abalone around the sound hole.”
“Artisans often use abalone inlays to provide a shimmering, multi-coloured finish to fine furniture and musical instruments.”
Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“South Africa is battling wildlife smuggling on several fronts, from poached rhino horns and the bones of illegally farmed tigers to abalone shellfish and succulent plants .” “Ten years later, I still keep a few bags of this instant abalone porridge in my pantry as a little treat.” Etymology
From American Spanish abulón, from an indigenous language of the Monterey Bay area such as Rumsen/Southern Ohlone aūlun (“red abalone”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.