/myoor"eks/ , n. , pl. murices /myoor"euh seez'/ , murexes .
1. any marine gastropod of the genus Murex, common in tropical seas, certain species of which yield the royal purple dye valued by the ancients.
2. a shell used as a trumpet, as in representations of Tritons in art.
3. purplish red.
[ 1580-90; murex the shellfish that yielded Tyrian purple dye ]