oyster

[oi-ster]

noun

1. any of several edible, marine, bivalve mollusks of the family Ostreidae, having an irregularly shaped shell, occurring on the bottom or adhering to rocks or other objects in shallow water.

2. the oyster-shaped bit of dark meat in the front hollow of the side bone of a fowl.

3. Slang.,  a closemouthed or uncommunicative person, especially one who keeps secrets well.

4. something from which a person may extract or derive advantage.

   The world is my oyster.

5. oyster white.

verb (used without object)

1. to dredge for or otherwise take oysters.

oyster

/ ˈɔɪstə /

noun

1. 1. any edible marine bivalve mollusc of the genus Ostrea, having a rough irregularly shaped shell and occurring on the sea bed, mostly in coastal waters

   2. ( as modifier )

      oyster farm

      oyster knife

2. any of various similar and related molluscs, such as the pearl oyster and the saddle oyster ( Anomia ephippium )

3. the oyster-shaped piece of dark meat in the hollow of the pelvic bone of a fowl

4. something from which advantage, delight, profit, etc, may be derived

   the world is his oyster

5. informal,  a very uncommunicative person

verb

1. (intr) to dredge for, gather, or raise oysters

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyster¹

1325–75; Middle English oistre < Middle French < Latin ostrea < Greek óstreon; ostracize

Word History and Origins

Origin of oyster¹

C14 oistre, from Old French uistre, from Latin ostrea, from Greek ostreon; related to Greek osteon bone, ostrakon shell

Idioms and Phrases

see world is one's oyster.

Example Sentences

A surprising new study has revealed that a parasite still troubling modern oysters first began infecting shell-dwelling sea creatures hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs vanished.

Read more on Science Daily

The Regency Bar serves up great cocktails, including thoughtful zero-proof options, as well as bar bites, but I’d skip the oysters.

Read more on Salon

Big, fat and meaty, the oysters are out of this world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Graham Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, is hoping to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in what is likely to be one of the most competitive Senate races next year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The martinis are cold, the oysters endless and every table sounds like a dinner party.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• clam 
• conch 
• crawfish 
• crustacean 
• lobster 
• mollusk 
• mussel 
• prawn 
• scallop 
• shrimp 
• snail