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)

Illustration of limpet

• limpet 1

Examples of limpet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other invertebrates that form lifelong pairs include termites (infraorder Isoptera), limpets (Siphonaria gigas), and snapping shrimps (Synalpheus species). —Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026

Threats to the Banbury Springs limpet include habitat modification due to hydroelectric dams, decreased groundwater quality and competition from nonnative species such as the New Zealand mudsnail, according to the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation. —Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026

The device, a compact high-explosive limpet mine designed to rest along the seabed, relies on a combination of acoustic and three-axis magnetic sensors to detect nearby vessels. —James Laporta, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

Awarded two Michelin stars within three months of opening, chef Poul Andrias Ziska has turned PAZ into a contemporary testing ground for the islands’ extraordinary seafood, drawn from icy waters and appearing even in dessert form (think blue mussel candy or ice cream made from limpet and dulse). —Rafael Tonon, Time, 12 Mar. 2026

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

Kids Definition

limpet

noun

lim·​pet ˈlim-pət 

: a marine mollusk that has a low cone-shaped shell, moves over rocks or timbers feeding on food found there, and clings very tightly when disturbed