bivalve

bi·valve  (bvlv)

n.

A mollusk, such as an oyster or a clam, that has a shell consisting of two hinged valves.

adj.

1. Having a shell consisting of two hinged valves.

2. Consisting of two similar separable parts.

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bivalved adj.

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bivalve

Noun

a sea creature, such as an oyster or mussel, that has a shell consisting of two hinged valves and breathes through gills

Adjective

of these molluscs

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bivalve  (bvlv)

Any of various mollusks of the class Bivalvia, having a shell consisting of two halves hinged together. Clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels are bivalves. The class Bivalvia is also called Pelecypoda, and was formerly called Lamellibranchia. Compare univalve.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	bivalve - marine or freshwater mollusks having a soft body with platelike gills enclosed within two shells hinged together lamellibranch, pelecypod mollusc, mollusk, shellfish - invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell Bivalvia, class Bivalvia, class Lamellibranchia, class Pelecypoda, Lamellibranchia - oysters; clams; scallops; mussels clam - burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud; the shell closes with viselike firmness cockle - common edible, burrowing European bivalve mollusk that has a strong, rounded shell with radiating ribs oyster - marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters ark shell - marine bivalve mollusk having a heavy toothed shell with a deep boat-like inner surface blood clam - red-blooded clam mussel - marine or freshwater bivalve mollusk that lives attached to rocks etc. escallop, scollop, scallop - edible marine bivalve having a fluted fan-shaped shell that swim by expelling water from the shell in a series of snapping motions piddock - marine bivalve that bores into rock or clay or wood by means of saw-like shells
Adj.	1.	bivalve - used of mollusks having two shells (as clams etc.) bivalved zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals univalve - used of mollusks, especially gastropods, as snails etc.