oyster

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See also: Oyster

English[edit]

An oyster (bivalve of family Ostreidae) (Ostrea edulis)

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English oystre, from Old English ostre, reinforced or superseded by Anglo-Norman oistre, which is from Old French oistre, uistre (compare modern French huître); both lines (Old English and Old French) from Latin ostrea, from Ancient Greek ὄστρεον (óstreon).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

oyster (plural oysters)

  1. Any of certain marine bivalve mollusks, especially those of the family Ostreidae (the true oysters), usually found adhering to rocks or other fixed objects in shallow water along the seacoasts, or in brackish water in the mouth of rivers.
  2. The delicate morsel of dark meat contained in a small cavity of the bone on each side of the lower part of the back of a fowl.
  3. A pale beige color tinted with grey or pink, like that of an oyster.
    oyster:  
  4. (colloquial, by analogy) A person who keeps secrets.
  5. (Britain, slang) A shoplifter.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

mollusk — See also translations at clam,‎ mollusc,‎ mussel

Adjective[edit]

oyster (comparative more oyster, superlative most oyster)

  1. Of a pale beige colour tinted with grey or pink, like that of an oyster.

Verb[edit]

oyster (third-person singular simple present oysters, present participle oystering, simple past and past participle oystered)

  1. (intransitive) To fish for oysters.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

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