scallop
Americannoun
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any of the bivalve mollusks of the genus Argopecten (Pecten ) and related genera that swim by rapidly clapping the fluted shell valves together.
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the adductor muscle of certain species of such mollusks, used as food.
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one of the shells of such a mollusk, usually having radial ribs and a wavy outer edge.
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a scallop shell or a dish in which food, especially seafood, is baked and served.
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Cooking. a thin slice of meat, usually further flattened by pounding with a mallet or other implement.
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any of a series of curved projections cut along the edge, as of a fabric.
verb (used with object)
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to finish (an edge) with scallops.
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Cooking. to escallop.
verb (used without object)
noun
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any of various marine bivalves of the family Pectinidae, having a fluted fan-shaped shell: includes free-swimming species (genus Pecten ) and species attached to a substratum (genus Chlamys ) See also pecten
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the edible adductor muscle of certain of these molluscs
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either of the shell valves of any of these molluscs
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a scallop shell or similarly shaped dish, in which fish, esp shellfish, is cooked and served
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one of a series of curves along an edge, esp an edge of cloth
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the shape of a scallop shell used as the badge of a pilgrim, esp in the Middle Ages
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a potato cake fried in batter
verb
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(tr) to decorate (an edge) with scallops
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to bake (food) in a scallop shell or similar dish
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(intr) to collect scallops
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have scallopedperfect
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has scallopedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been scallopingperfect progressive
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is scallopingprogressive 3rd person singular
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scallopssingular 3rd person
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am scallopingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been scallopingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are scallopingprogressive
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scallopingparticiple
Past
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had scallopedperfect
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had been scallopingperfect progressive
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was scallopingprogressive singular
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scallopedparticiple
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were scallopingprogressive plural
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scallopedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of scallop
1350–1400; Middle English scalop, aphetic variant of escal(l)op escallop; sense “thin slice of meat” probably by association with French escalope escalope
Explanation
A scallop is a kind of saltwater shellfish that swims by opening and closing its shell. Cooked scallops are a popular seafood as well. The word scallop can actually refer to a few types of mollusks, including some clams and the thorny oyster. In the ocean, scallops are known for swimming extremely fast by moving their valves, or each half of the shell they live inside. You may also encounter scallops on the menu of a seafood restaurant. The curved edge of a scallop shell led to another meaning of scallop, "rounded ornamental edging," like the scallops on a skirt's hem or woodwork.
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.
Scallop on a cauliflower purée bed and cockle popcorn and chorizo crumb.
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2023
“There has to be an end to this fraud,” Pascal Coquet, president of the National Scallop Fishermen’s Committee said.
From Reuters • Oct. 28, 2021
Scallop fishermen harvested 58.2 million pounds of scallops last year, the fifth-highest since 1945.
From Salon • Oct. 20, 2019
“At Scallop Pond, we can all come, and there’s unlimited space for painting,” she said.
From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2012
Clam, 266, 267 Crab, 267 French, 267 German, 268 Oyster, 268, 269 Salmon, 270 Scallop, 271 Shrimp, 270 Fruit, 271 ff.
From The Myrtle Reed Cook Book by Reed, Myrtle
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.
