1A general term for shelled aquatic animals such as clams and snails; many varieties are eaten as food.
海辺の店で新鮮な貝を焼いて食べた。
We grilled and ate fresh shellfish at a shop by the sea.
味噌汁には貝がよく使われる。
Shellfish are often used in miso soup.
潮が引くと砂浜で貝がたくさん採れる。
When the tide goes out, you can gather lots of shellfish on the beach.
2A seashell, the shell of a shellfish, often picked up on beaches.
娘は旅行のたびに貝を集めるのが好きだ。
My daughter loves collecting seashells every time we travel.
その貝は光に当たると虹色に光る。
That shell shines in rainbow colors when it catches the light.