A scallop is a type of shellfish that lives in the ocean inside two rounded, fan-shaped shells with wavy edges. The scallop itself is a small, sweet-tasting creature that swims by rapidly opening and closing its shells, propelling itself through the water like an underwater butterfly. Unlike clams or oysters that stay put on the ocean floor, scallops can actually move around to escape predators.

People eat scallops as seafood, usually just the round white muscle that holds the shells together. When cooked properly, scallops have a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and a tender texture. They're often seared in a hot pan until golden brown on the outside.

As a verb, to scallop means to make a wavy edge pattern like the edge of a scallop shell.

The word also describes the decorative wavy edge pattern found on scallop shells. When fabric, paper, or trim has a scalloped edge, it means the border has a series of rounded curves, like half-circles connected in a row. You might see scalloped borders on fancy tablecloths, the edges of pie crusts, or decorative paper. The shells themselves are so beautiful and distinctive that artists and designers have used the scallop shell pattern in architecture and decoration for thousands of years.