# mussel

/ˈməsəɫ/ (US) · /mˈʌsəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mussel
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

a small sea creature with a hard shell that lives in water. It is often eaten as food and has a soft body inside the shell.

For teachers: a bivalve mollusc with a soft, unsegmented body enclosed in a hinged shell. Often consumed as a culinary delicacy and found in both marine and freshwater environments.

## Examples

- We ate grilled mussels for dinner.
- The chef served a plate of steamed mussels with a side of garlic bread and a fresh salad.
- Ecologists are monitoring the mussel population in the river because these organisms are highly sensitive to changes in water quality and serve as an early indicator of pollution.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.