# tellin

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tellin
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a type of small sea animal with a flat, colorful shell that lives in the sand. You usually find these shells on the beach after the tide goes out.

For teachers: any of various small, marine bivalve molluscs belonging to the family Tellinidae, typically possessing a compressed, often brightly coloured shell. Found globally in sandy or muddy coastal environments.

## Examples

- The children found a pink tellin shell on the beach.
- Marine biologists studied the tellin population to determine the health of the local sandy ecosystem.
- The delicate, translucent valves of the tellin are often washed ashore in great numbers, serving as a primary indicator of the biodiversity present in the intertidal zone.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural when referring to the group of shells or the species in general.

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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.