murex
noun
mu·rex
ˈmyu̇r-ˌeks 
plural murices
ˈmyu̇r-ə-ˌsēz
or murexes
or murexes
: any of a genus (Murex of the family Muricidae) of marine gastropod mollusks having a rough and often spiny shell, abounding in tropical seas, and yielding a purple dye
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As each murex produced only a few drops of precious mucus, the manufacture of commercial quantities of Tyrian purple required the harvesting of vast quantities of these creatures.
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Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
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Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Murex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/murex. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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