1. an invertebrate animal with a soft body, often protected by a hard shell, such as snails, clams, or octopuses

Examples

• The tide pool contained various molluscs including mussels and periwinkles.
• Snails are terrestrial molluscs that carry their shells on their backs.
• The octopus is a highly intelligent mollusc without an external shell.
• Marine biologists study how molluscs adapt to different ocean environments.
• Clams and oysters are bivalve molluscs prized for their pearls.
• The museum’s collection featured fossilized molluscs from ancient seas.