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tortoiseshell Definition

tor·toise·shell (-s̸hel′)

noun

  1. the hard, mottled, yellow-and-brown shell of some turtles and tortoises, used in inlaying and, esp. formerly, in making combs, frames for eyeglasses, etc.
  2. a synthetic substance made in imitation of this
  3. a mottled, yellow-and-brown color pattern
  4. any of several common, black and yellow-brown butterflies (genus Nymphalis) with markings resembling those of tortoise shell
  5. a cat with a mottled coat of black, brown, red or yellow, white, etc.
Also tortoise-shell tor′toise-shell′
tortoiseshell Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • include: These include the small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral and comma.
  • see: I live in Faversham, Kent, and have seen one small tortoiseshell in my garden this week.
  • find: On a sunny day, it is a good spot to find small tortoiseshell, ringlet and small blue butterflies.

Adjective modifier

  • small: The first Small Tortoiseshells of the year were on the wing at several sites.
  • large: This bird arrived during a period of southerly winds, when Glossy Ibis and Large Tortoiseshell appeared in our area.
  • few: I've also discovered that there are a few tortoiseshells around that are males... I always thought they could only be females.

Modifies a noun

  • butterfly: You may find that a bat or small tortoiseshell butterfly may roost or hibernate in this secret hideaway.
  • cat: All tortoiseshell cats are females, except in very rare cases where the cat has a disorder of the chromosomes!
  • tom: The tortoiseshell tom watched her accusingly from the rock garden.
  • female: These males are your key to breeding black tortoiseshell females.
  • glass: He glances down at his Omega Seamaster watch and peers over his Calvin Klein faux tortoiseshell glasses at the closed door to the boardroom.
  • jewelry: You will see vendors of tortoiseshell jewelry in blatant violation of Panamanian law.

Noun used with modifier

  • faux: He glances down at his Omega Seamaster watch and peers over his Calvin Klein faux tortoiseshell glasses at the closed door to the boardroom.
  • imitation: Imitation tortoiseshell is likely to be cellulose nitrate ( which smells of camphor ).

Browse dictionary entries near tortoiseshell

  1. tortoises
  2. tortoise-shell
  3. tortoise beetle
  4. tortoise
  5. tortiously
  6. tortious
  7. tortilla
  8. tortile
  9. torticollis
  10. tortfeasor
  1. Tortola
  2. tortoni
  3. tortricid
  4. Tortuga
  5. tortuosities
  6. tortuosity
  7. tortuous
  8. tortuously
  9. tortuousness
  10. torture