Gastropod: meaning, definitions and examples
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gastropod
[ ˈɡastrəˌpäd ]
marine biology
A mollusk of the large class Gastropoda, such as a snail, slug, or whelk, typically having a single spiral shell or no shell at all. Gastropods move by gliding along on a muscular foot.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The rocky shore was teeming with gastropods of various shapes and sizes.
- The garden was infested with gastropods, much to the dismay of the gardener.
culinary
A type of edible mollusk, such as a snail, especially when used as an ingredient in cooking. Gastropods are considered a delicacy in some cultures.
Synonyms
edible snail, escargot
Examples of usage
- The French restaurant is known for its exquisite dishes featuring gastropods.
- The chef prepared a gourmet meal with gastropods as the main course.
Translations
Translations of the word "gastropod" in other languages:
🇵🇹 gastrópode
🇮🇳 गैस्ट्रोपॉड
🇩🇪 Weichtier
🇮🇩 gastropoda
🇺🇦 черевоногий молюск
🇵🇱 ślimak
🇯🇵 腹足類 (ふくそくるい)
🇫🇷 gastéropode
🇪🇸 gasterópodo
🇹🇷 karındanbacaklı
🇰🇷 복족류 (bokjokryu)
🇸🇦 بطنيات القدم
🇨🇿 plž
🇸🇰 slimák
🇨🇳 腹足纲 (fùzúgāng)
🇸🇮 polž
🇮🇸 snigill
🇰🇿 гастропод
🇬🇪 ლოკოკინა
🇦🇿 qarınayaqlı
🇲🇽 gasterópodo
Etymology
The term 'gastropod' originates from the Greek words 'gastro' meaning stomach and 'podos' meaning foot, referring to the characteristic creeping movement of these mollusks. Gastropods are one of the most diverse and successful groups of mollusks, with over 60,000 species worldwide. They have a long evolutionary history dating back to the Cambrian period, around 500 million years ago.