1. A small marine mollusk with a slender, curved, tusk-like shell, found in shallow to deep ocean waters.
Usage: Also called tusk shell or tooth shell.; Genus Dentalium and related genera.
2. The shell of a dentalium mollusk, historically used as currency or ornament by certain Native American peoples.
Usage: Cultural and historical context; valued in Pacific Northwest trade.

Examples

• The dentalium is a small mollusk that lives on the ocean floor.
• Dentalium shells were highly prized by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
• Archaeologists found dentalium shells in the burial site, indicating their cultural significance.
• The curved dentalium shell resembles a miniature elephant's tusk.
• Collectors of seashells often seek dentalium specimens for their distinctive shape.