Tortoiseshell — can refer to: tortoiseshell material, made primarily from the shell of the Hawksbill turtle Tortoiseshell cat, a pattern used in clothing and jewellery tortoiseshell butterflies, brush footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) in the genera Aglais and… … Wikipedia
tortoiseshell — ► NOUN 1) the semi transparent mottled yellow and brown shell of certain turtles, used to make jewellery or ornaments. 2) a domestic cat with markings resembling tortoiseshell. 3) a butterfly with mottled orange, yellow, and black markings … English terms dictionary
tortoiseshell — [tôrt′əsshel΄] n. 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,… … English World dictionary
tortoiseshell — /tawr teuhs shel /, n. Also, tortoise shell. 1. a horny substance of a mottled brown and yellow coloration, composing the laminae that cover the inner body plates of the carapace of a hawksbill turtle, used for making combs and ornamental… … Universalium
tortoiseshell — n. & adj. n. 1 the yellowish brown mottled or clouded outer shell of some turtles, used for decorative hair combs, jewellery, etc. 2 a = tortoiseshell cat. b = tortoiseshell butterfly. adj. having the colouring or appearance of tortoiseshell.… … Useful english dictionary
tortoiseshell — [[t]tɔ͟ː(r)təsʃel[/t]] tortoiseshells 1) N UNCOUNT Tortoiseshell is the hard shell of a kind of sea turtle. It is brown and yellow in colour and is often polished and used to make jewellery and ornaments. 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n Tortoiseshell means… … English dictionary
tortoiseshell — /ˈtɔtəʃɛl / (say tawtuhshel) noun 1. the horny substance, with a mottled or clouded yellow and brown colouration, composing the plates or scales that cover the marine tortoiseshell turtle, of the genus Eretmochelys, formerly used for making combs …
tortoiseshell — tor•toise•shell [[t]ˈtɔr təsˌʃɛl[/t]] n. Also, tor′toise shell . 1) ram the horny brown and yellow layer on the outer surface of the hawksbill turtle s carapace, used for making combs and ornamental articles 2) any synthetic substance made to… … From formal English to slang
tortoiseshell — noun 1》 the semi transparent mottled yellow and brown shell of certain turtles, typically used to make jewellery or ornaments. ↘a synthetic imitation of this. 2》 a domestic cat with markings resembling tortoiseshell. 3》 a butterfly with… … English new terms dictionary
tortoiseshell — UK [ˈtɔː(r)təsˌʃel] / US [ˈtɔrtəsˌʃel] noun Word forms tortoiseshell : singular tortoiseshell plural tortoiseshells 1) [uncountable] the hard shell of a type of turtle that is brown and orange and is used for making things, for example jewellery… … English dictionary
