What is "univalve"

Univalve \U"ni*valve\, Univalved \U"ni*valved\, a. [Cf. F. univalve.] (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Having one valve; as, a univalve shell or pericarp.

Univalve \U"ni*valve\, n. [Uni- + valve: cf. F. univalve.] (Zo["o]l.) A shell consisting of one valve only; a mollusk whose shell is composed of a single piece, as the snails and conchs.

Note: Most univalves are spiral and are the shells of gastropods, but many belong to cephalopods and pteropods. A large number of univalves belonging to the gastropods are conical, cup-shaped, or shieldlike, as the limpets.

of mollusks and shells, 1660s (noun and adjective), from uni- + valve.

a. 1 having one valve, typically used to refer to mollusks, notably slugs and snails. 2 consisting of a single valve or piece, used to refer to a shell. n. A univalve mollusk or its shell.

1. adj. used of mollusks, especially gastropods, as snails etc. [ant: bivalve]

2. n. a class of mollusks typically having a one-piece coiled shell and flattened muscular foot with a head bearing stalked eyes [syn: gastropod]