Word
shellfish
Phoneticsshell·fish, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɛɫˌfɪʃ/
UK/ʃˈɛlfɪʃ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. animals that live in water and have a shell, like crabs, lobsters, or mussels, which people often eat.
n. a culinary and biological category for aquatic invertebrates with shells, specifically crustaceans and molluscs, used as a food source.
Examples
“I always order the grilled shellfish at this restaurant.”
“The chef prepares a rich stew filled with fresh shellfish caught by local fishermen that morning.”
“Marine biologists are monitoring the local shellfish populations to determine how rising ocean temperatures and acidification affect the development of their protective outer layers.”
Examples
simple
“I always order the grilled shellfish at this restaurant.”
contextual
“The chef prepares a rich stew filled with fresh shellfish caught by local fishermen that morning.”
complex
“Marine biologists are monitoring the local shellfish populations to determine how rising ocean temperatures and acidification affect the development of their protective outer layers.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the food category in general; countable when referring to specific species or individual animals.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English schellefyssch, from Old English sċielfisċ. Equivalent to shell + fish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/shellfish