Illustration of barnacle
- 1 peduncle
- 2 cirri
barnacle
noun
bar·na·cle ˈbär-ni-kəl 
1
2
[from a popular belief that the goose grew from the crustacean] : any of numerous marine crustaceans (subclass Cirripedia) with feathery appendages for gathering food that are free-swimming as larvae but permanently fixed (as to rocks, boat hulls, or whales) as adults
Examples of barnacle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Snapper, grouper, amberjack, and barracuda can patrol decks and passages, while coral, sponges, and barnacles create a habitat for smaller fish. —
Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 Vintage dub techno was grimy, barnacle-encrusted, and often user-unfriendly. —Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026 Epibionts — barnacles, algae, other marine organisms — latch onto a turtle’s shell and body. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026 Once a sea turtle begins to struggle, the barnacles and algae that latch onto its shell compound the problem. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barnacle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 Vintage dub techno was grimy, barnacle-encrusted, and often user-unfriendly. —Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026 Epibionts — barnacles, algae, other marine organisms — latch onto a turtle’s shell and body. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026 Once a sea turtle begins to struggle, the barnacles and algae that latch onto its shell compound the problem. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barnacle
Cite this Entry
“Barnacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/barnacle. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
barnacle
noun
bar·na·cle ˈbär-ni-kəl
: any of numerous small saltwater crustaceans with feathery outgrowths for gathering food that are free-swimming as larvae but as adults are permanently fastened (as to rocks or the bottoms of ships)
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