bivalve

B3I1V4A1L1V4E1
/ˈbaɪvælv/

noun

Any mollusc belonging to the taxonomic class Bivalvia, characterized by a shell consisting of two hinged sections, such as a scallop, clam, mussel or oyster.

Similar
bivalvedlamellibranchpelecypodpelecypodous
Opposite
univalve
OriginEnglish valve ← Latin bi- ← Proto-Italic *dwi- →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounbivalve (plural bivalves)

plural bivalves

  1. Any mollusc belonging to the taxonomic class Bivalvia, characterized by a shell consisting of two hinged sections, such as a scallop, clam, mussel or oyster.
  2. biologyA pericarp in which the seedcase opens or splits into two parts or valves.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveused of mollusks having two shells (as clams etc.)

Similar
bivalvedlamellibranchpelecypodpelecypodous
Opposite
univalve

nounmarine or freshwater mollusks having a soft body with platelike gills enclosed within two shells hinged together

Similar
pelecypodlamellibranch
Broader
molluskmolluscshellfish
Also see
bivalvedlamellibranchpelecypod

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dwi-
  3. Proto-Italic*dwi-
  4. Latinbi-
  5. Englishbi-
  6. Englishvalve
  7. Englishbivalve

From bi- (“two”) + valve.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ὄστρεον
  • ὄστρεον (óstreon)any mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Bulgarian ми́да
  • ми́да (mída)any mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Catalan bivalve
  • bivalveany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Czech mlž
  • mlžany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Finnish simpukka
  • simpukkaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
French bivalve
  • bivalveany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Icelandic samloka
  • samlokaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Irish débhlaoscach, déchomhlach
  • débhlaoscachany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
  • déchomhlachany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Italian bivalve
  • bivalveany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Japanese 二枚貝
  • 二枚貝 (nimaigai)any mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Latin concha
  • conchaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Malay dwicangkerang
  • dwicangkerangany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Māori angarua
  • angaruaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Polish małż, owocnia dwuklapowa
  • małżany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
  • owocnia dwuklapowabotany: pericarp in which the seedcase splits into two parts
Portuguese bivalve, bivalvo
  • bivalveany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
  • bivalvoany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Russian двуство́рчатый
  • двуство́рчатый (dvustvórčatyj)any mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Scottish Gaelic dà-mhogallach
  • dà-mhogallachany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Spanish bivalvo
  • bivalvoany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Swedish mussla
  • musslaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Tagalog almeha
  • almehaany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Thai หอยสองฝา
  • หอยสองฝา (hɔ̌i-sɔ̌ɔng-fǎa)any mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Vietnamese thân mềm hai mảnh vỏ, nhuyễn thể hai mảnh vỏ
  • thân mềm hai mảnh vỏany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
  • nhuyễn thể hai mảnh vỏany mollusc of taxonomic class Bivalvia
Cite this entry
APA

bivalve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bivalve

MLA

“bivalve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bivalve. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bivalve,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bivalve.

Source: bivalve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.