Cockle - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A cockle is a small, edible saltwater clam with a heart-shaped shell. It is often found in sandy coastal areas and is used in seafood dishes. The term can also describe a wrinkle or pucker in fabric or paper.
Definition:
A small edible shellfish with a ribbed shell, or to wrinkle or pucker like its shell.
Synonyms:
mollusk, bivalve, clam, shellfish
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
smooth, flatten
Common Collocations:
cockle shells, cockle hat, warm the cockles of one's heart
Derivatives:
cockled, cockling
Usage Tips:
Use "cockle" as a noun for the shellfish or a verb meaning to wrinkle; often poetic or regional in usage.
Common Phrases:
warm the cockles of one's heart, cockles and mussels
Etymology:
From Old French "coquille," meaning shell, derived from Latin "conchylia," from Greek "konkhylion."
Examples:
- 1. She found a tiny cockle on the sandy beach.
- 2. The fabric began to cockle after being left in the damp air.
- 3. His kindness warmed the cockles of her heart.
- 4. We collected cockles and mussels by the shore at low tide.