: any of numerous marine bivalve lamellibranch mollusks (family Pectinidae) that have a radially ribbed shell with the edge undulated and that swim by opening and closing the valves
b
: the adductor muscle of a scallop as an article of food
2
a
: a valve or shell of a scallop
b
: a baking dish shaped like a valve of a scallop
3
: one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections forming a border (as on cloth or metal)
Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with warm weather foods like salads and seafood including scallops, sushi, mussels, and shrimp.—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 May 2024 Finigan rattled off a list of ingredients sourced from the immediate vicinity—lobsters caught by her husband; scallops raised by Marsden and Bob Brewer, a father-son team in Stonington; and peas from Eliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch's Four Season Farm.—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2024 Chicken, onion patties, rice and scallops were at improper holding temperatures, according to the report.—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024 Depending on the season, fishers like Mr. Stevens can bring in even more treasures, like scallops, squid, blue crabs, striped bass, mackerel and skate.—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024 The embellishments, especially the fennel, hover at the edge of overwhelming the scallops without quite tipping over.—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 In spring that means a first course of yellowtail and sea buckthorn followed by scallop and rhubarb, cod and apple, duck and broccoli rabe, and a finale of almond and maple.—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Cut scallops into the top of a 3x5-inch envelope to make a cloud.—Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 For Valentine’s Day, executive chef David Shofner will offer a 32-day dry-aged prime rib-eye, as well as seared scallops.—Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024
Verb
The three of them made buttery Peruvian empanadas, hamachi tostadas and golden Hokkaido scallop toast as part of the Women’s History Month festival put on by Regarding Her.—Heather Platt, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024 An Arctic Chef’s Poke Roll marries Hokkaido scallop with miso-sesame aioli, cucumber and that spicy-salty flavor bomb, yuzu kosho ($21).—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024 Small plates include the stunning tartar de vieira, Hokkaido scallops tartar served with Tobiko caviar, green apple, crispy onions and shimmering bites of uni, creamy scallops topped with a welcome, briny bite of the sea.—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024 Both the shelves and the frame feature scalloped edges for a charming, decorative look.—Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024 Wind scalloped the surface of the water and Michi made a thumbs-down sign.—Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024 These sprawling, curved surfaces have scalloped edges that extend into long tendrils.—Quanta Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Warren wore red swim trunks, which matched nearly perfectly with Lorde's red strapless scalloped bikini.—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023 Today Almería is a sleepy provincial port surrounded by mountains that travelers often pass through quickly en route to the beaches that scallop the coast.—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scallop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scalop, from Anglo-French escalope shell, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schelpe shell
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