Phrase guide

zebra mussel

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of species Dreissena polymorpha of striped freshwater mussel, originating in Russia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Zebra mussels are causing significant problems as an invasive species in North America.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

inch long mollusk imported accidentally from Europe; clogs utility inlet pipes and feeds on edible freshwater mussels

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Dreissena polymorpha

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: freshwater mussel, freshwater clam

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: musclo zebrat — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Chinese Mandarin: 斑馬貽貝 /斑马贻贝 (bānmǎyíbèi) — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Dutch: driehoeksmossel — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Finnish: vaeltajasimpukka — Dreissena polymorpha
  • French: moule zébrée — Dreissena polymorpha
  • German: Wandermuschel — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Irish: diúilicín riabhach — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Russian: речна́я дрейссе́на (rečnája drejsséna) — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Spanish: mejillón cebra — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Vietnamese: trai vằn — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Welsh: cragen las resog — Dreissena polymorpha
  • Welsh: misglen resog — Dreissena polymorpha