dentalium

/dɛnˈtɛljəm/

Definitions

1. noun

a genus of large, pearly, bivalve marine shells, especially those of the species Dentalium entalis and Dentalium lubricum, valued as a source of mother-of-pearl.

“The museum exhibited a collection of rare dentalium shells, some of which dated back thousands of years.”

Synonyms

  • mother-of-pearl
  • nacre

Antonyms

  • rock
  • shell fragments