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molusco

mollusc

noun moh-LOOS-koh Rare

Origin: From French mollusque, from Latin molluscus ('soft'), from mollis ('soft').

Usage Note

Molusco is the scientific and everyday term for soft-bodied invertebrates including snails, octopuses, and clams. In Spanish the word covers the same broad phylum as English 'mollusc/mollusk'. Note the British spelling 'mollusc' vs the American 'mollusk'; Spanish molusco is always written without a k.

Examples

"El pulpo es un molusco de gran inteligencia."

Natural Translation

The octopus is a highly intelligent mollusc.

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