byssus
Americannoun
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Zoology. a collection of silky filaments by which certain mollusks attach themselves to rocks.
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an ancient cloth, thought to be of linen, cotton, or silk.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of byssus
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek býssos a fine cotton or linen < Semitic; compare Hebrew būts
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Dreissenid byssus fibers, which resemble spider silk structurally, could inspire future development of tough polymer fibers, contributing to more durable and sustainable materials typically used in textiles and technical plastics."
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023
Using a fibrous anchor called a byssus, Dreissenid mussels contribute to biofouling on surfaces and obstruct intake structures in power stations and water treatment plants.
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023
This area of contact between the living tissue and the non-living byssus stem root is known as a biointerface, and is the focus of a study by McGill professor of Chemistry Matthew Harrington.
From Science Daily • Dec. 1, 2023
The byssus is not unsafe for diners, but it is unattractive.
From Washington Post • Oct. 29, 2020
And to meet them he put on bright and gorgeous garments, that glittered with yellow gold—and—scarlet byssus.
From Famous Modern Ghost Stories by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
