scallop
Americannoun
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scallops
plural
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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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scallops,
present (3rd person singular)
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scalloped,
past participle, past
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scalloping
present participle
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to finish (an edge) with scallops.
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Cooking. to escallop.
verb (used without object)
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scallops,
present (3rd person singular)
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scalloped,
past participle, past
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scalloping
present participle
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scallopsimple
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scallopssimple
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have scallopedperfect
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has scallopedperfect
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am scallopingprogressive
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are scallopingprogressive
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is scallopingprogressive
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have been scallopingperfect progressive
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has been scallopingperfect progressive
Past
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scallopedsimple
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had scallopedperfect
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was scallopingprogressive
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were scallopingprogressive
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had been scallopingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Lady 56 was buried with a scallop shell, an unusual object to find in a medieval Scandinavian grave.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 27, 2026
Meanwhile, the scallop and soup examples I mentioned above came, respectively, from Ed Yong’s “An Immense World,” about animal perception, and Sam Kean’s “The Disappearing Spoon”—of which I have completed 87% so far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
At Granja Elena in Zona Franca, I enjoyed a tomato and scallop tartare that could entice even the staunchest carnivore.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2025
More than 100 of the cubes have already been used at a scallop farm in Torbay.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
He bit into a scallop and spoke while he chewed.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
Our favorite dish was the house-made pappardelle with buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, topped with beautifully seared scallops.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
“I ran into a tiki bar one time. That wasn’t too good,” said Derrick Hoy, 55, who fishes scallops in the Atlantic on a different vessel from Crusher, the 30-foot boat he competes with.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Increasing numbers of octopus may offer a new market for fishermen, for example, but can hit populations of crabs, lobster, scallops and other shellfish on which they prey.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
From there, the menu moves to the restaurant’s specialties: hand-cut steaks aged in-house, sautéed scallops and pan-fried walleye.
From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026
She finishes her entree of scallops too quickly, sits for a very long time, it seems, watching Nikhil work his way through his quail.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
The scalloped bonnethead was last seen in Mexico in 1994, while the scoophead was last documented in 2007.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2025
Once I got the rhythm down, I began to experiment: a fringe here, a scalloped edge there, even the terrifying act of turning a corner.
From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2025
From an office perched on the scalloped edge of the continent, Victoria Bradley jokes that she has the most beautiful doctor's practice in Australia.
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025
Three crisp, sharp triangles in flat primary colors are edged in scalloped yellow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2024
The round, scalloped ends of the tassels reminded Aru of cat paws.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
For the adventurous and industrious, from October to March, the town sells $50-a-week shellfish permits for recreational scalloping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
When my kids were younger, I always took them scalloping.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2021
In New Bedford, Massachusetts, where the William Lee docks, scalloping season begins in April.
From National Geographic ● Feb. 8, 2021
Its mission, he said, would be to teach fishing basics for all manner of fisheries, from groundfishing to scalloping, lobstering and beyond.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 17, 2019
Each had knotted, carefully combed tassels, fleur-de-lis borders, ornate medallion designs, and minute scalloping amid a motif of connected eight-spoked wheels, all in rust and fire orange.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
