murex Definition
any of various tropical marine gastropods of the family Muricidae, many species of which yield a purple dye used from ancient times as a royal and ecclesiastical prerogative.
Using murex: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "murex" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The ancient Phoenicians used murex to make purple dye for their clothing.
Example
The murex shell is prized for its beauty and rarity.
Phrases with murex
a purple-red natural dye obtained from the murex shell, used by the ancient Phoenicians and Romans for coloring cloth
Example
The robe of a Roman emperor was often dyed with Tyrian purple, made from murex.
Example
The spiny murex is a popular collector's item among shell enthusiasts.
a purple crystalline compound derived from murex, used as an indicator in analytical chemistry
Example
Murexide is commonly used to detect the presence of calcium in water samples.
Summary: murex in Brief
The term 'murex' [myoo r-eks] refers to various tropical marine gastropods of the family Muricidae. Many species of murex are used to produce a purple dye that has been prized since ancient times for its rarity and association with royalty and religion. The dye is known as Tyrian purple and is still used today in small quantities for special purposes.
