oyster

American  

[oi-ster] / ˈɔɪ stər /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to dredge for or otherwise take oysters.

oyster British  

/ 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

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verb

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

oyster Idioms  

1. see world is one's oyster.

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Etymology

Origin of oyster

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

Explanation

An oyster is an animal that lives in the sea, a rough-shelled mollusk. To find a pearl inside an oyster, you first have to find a "pearl oyster" — a rare cousin of the oysters people commonly eat. You can usually tell you've found an oyster on the beach because its shell is bumpy and irregular, unlike the smoother clams or mussels you might see. There are few kinds of oysters that are edible (both cooked and raw), and many others that aren't. You may have heard the expression "the word ls your oyster," which is one of Shakespeare's many linguistic inventions; he means the world is yours to seize, open, and use as you wish.

Example Sentences

Tina Manos, 69, said she is concerned about the effect on the area’s economy, including oyster farms, the aquaculture industry and tourism.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

New research has revealed how to design artificial habitats that give oyster reefs the best chance to recover.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

Graham Platner, a 41-year-old combat veteran and oyster farmer from a town of 1,000, is leading two-term Gov. Janet Mills by more than 30 points in the most recent poll.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

The native oyster all but disappeared from Belfast Lough in the early 20th Century, due to over-fishing, pollution and habitat loss.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026

“I wondered, Dad, if you would hook up the oyster dredger to the Miss Amanda and help me haul something out of the river?”

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Related Words

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