Hyper Dictionary

English Dictionary Computer Dictionary Video Dictionary Thesaurus Dream Dictionary Medical Dictionary

Search Dictionary:  

Meaning of BIVALVE

Pronunciation:  'bI`valv

WordNet Dictionary
  1. [n]  marine or freshwater mollusks having a soft body with platelike gills enclosed within two shells hinged together
  2. [adj]  (zoology) used of mollusks having two shells (as clams etc.)

BIVALVE is a 7 letter word that starts with B.


 Synonyms: bivalved, lamellibranch, lamellibranch, pelecypod, pelecypod, pelecypodous
 Antonyms: univalve
 See Also: ark shell, Bivalvia, blood clam, clam, class Bivalvia, class Lamellibranchia, class Pelecypoda, cockle, escallop, Lamellibranchia, mollusc, mollusk, mussel, oyster, piddock, scallop, scollop, shellfish



Webster's 1913 Dictionary
  1. \Bi"valve\, n. [F. bivalve; bi- (L. bis) + valve valve.]
    1. (Zo["o]l.) A mollusk having a shell consisting of two
       lateral plates or valves joined together by an elastic
       ligament at the hinge, which is usually strengthened by
       prominences called teeth. The shell is closed by the
       contraction of two transverse muscles attached to the
       inner surface, as in the clam, -- or by one, as in the
       oyster. See Mollusca.
    2. (Bot.) A pericarp in which the seed case opens or splits
       into two parts or valves.
  2. \Bi"valve\, a. [Pref. bi- + valve.] (Zo["o]l. & Bot.)
    Having two shells or valves which open and shut, as the
    oyster and certain seed vessels.