limpet
/ˈlɪm.pɪt/noun, verb
limpet is spelled L-I-M-P-E-T: 6 letters. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 70,702nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, limpet means “Any of various gastropods with a conical shell shape (patelliform) and a strong, muscular foot that they use to create strong suction to cling onto…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of limpet is limpets.
How many letters and syllables are in limpet?
| Letters | 6: L-I-M-P-E-T |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 70,702nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is limpet?
Limpet appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 70,702nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce limpet?
- /ˈlɪm.pɪt/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-limpet.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of limpet
- limpets plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- limpeting participle, present
- limpeted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does limpet mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Any of various gastropods with a conical shell shape (patelliform) and a strong, muscular foot that they use to create strong suction to cling onto rocks or other hard surfaces.
- 2
UKSomeone clingy or dependent; someone disregarding or ignorant of another's personal space.
He stuck to me like a limpet all day!
verb
- 1
To gather limpets.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Limpet in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | patelle, lampotte, bernique |
| German | Napfschnecke , Anhang, Anhängsel |
| Portuguese | lapa |
| Spanish | lapa |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does limpet come from?
From Middle English lempet, from Old English lempedu (“lamprey”), borrowed from Medieval Latin lampreda, alteration of Late Latin lampetra (“lamprey”), whose further origin is unknown, though is traditionally thought to derive from lambō (“to lick, lap”) + petra (“stone, rock”). Doublet of lamprey, which came through Old French.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).