Illustration of limpet
- limpet 1
limpet
noun
lim·pet ˈlim-pət 
1
: a marine gastropod mollusk (especially families Acmaeidae and Patellidae) that has a low conical shell broadly open beneath, browses over rocks or timbers in the littoral area, and clings very tightly when disturbed
2
: one that clings tenaciously to someone or something
3
: an explosive device designed to cling magnetically to a metallic surface (such as the hull of a ship)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The leafbird’s single gyroid crystals exhibit the same optical property as the limpet’s layers. 
Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 The leafbird’s single gyroid crystals exhibit the same optical property as the limpet’s layers. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 The leafbird’s single gyroid crystals exhibit the same optical property as the limpet’s layers. Viviane Callier, The Atlantic, 20 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 How the limpet builds the layered structure with such precision is a mystery. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Viviane Callier, The Atlantic, 20 June 2021 See More
Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 The leafbird’s single gyroid crystals exhibit the same optical property as the limpet’s layers. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 The leafbird’s single gyroid crystals exhibit the same optical property as the limpet’s layers. Viviane Callier, The Atlantic, 20 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 How the limpet builds the layered structure with such precision is a mystery. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2021 Unlike the octopus, though, the limpet can’t change the shape of its layers after they are laid down. Viviane Callier, The Atlantic, 20 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English lempet, from Old English lempedu, from Medieval Latin lampreda lamprey
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1