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moule

mussel

noun MOOL Rare
Food & Drink Ingredients

Also means

mould, cast (tool)

Usage Note

Moule is feminine (une moule) when it means the shellfish and masculine (un moule) when it means a mould or baking tin — same spelling, different gender, different meaning. Moules-frites (mussels and chips) is the iconic dish of northern France and Belgium. The culinary and practical senses are both common, so knowing the gender signals the meaning.

Examples

"Elle a commandé des moules marinières."

Natural Translation

She ordered mussels in white wine sauce.

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