Definition of "ostrea" [‖Os•tre•a]

• A genus of bivalve Mollusca which includes the true oysters. (noun)

Gnu Collaboartive International Dictionary of English: licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

• "The Olys share with the celebrated European Belon a family name (ostrea), a pronounced, acquired-taste metallic tang, and a stark future: Both have all but vanished and been almost entirely replaced by hardy, fast-growing Japanese Pacific (gigas) oysters."
• "([Greek: monothyra] of Aristotle), such as those just mentioned, and the other [Greek: ostrea] of Aphrodite, the Nerites (periwinkles, etc.), the purple shell and the Echineïs were also real Veneriae conchae."
• "The shore is lined by a barrier of sharp rocks, covered with species of ostrea and nerita, but although these were the only living testaceous animals that were found, the beach was covered with a multitude of dead and imperfect shells of various species."