Tortoiseshell Meaning
/ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc.
nounThe hawksbill turtle.
Sentence Examples
I have a tortoiseshell cat. She is so affectionate!
CEFR Practice Quiz
The veterinarian examined the healthy ____ cat with black and orange patches.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a new pair of glasses with a beautiful ____ pattern on the frames that looked very stylish today.
Word Origin & History
From tortoise + shell.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Other common farmland butterflies to have suffered steep declines include the small tortoiseshell (64%), the wall brown (37%) and the large skipper (35%)."
— 2015 November 24, Patrick Barkham, “Pesticide may be reason butterfly numbers are falling in UK, says study”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016:
"Speaking of round sunglasses, these lightweight polarized ones and come in two shades of tortoiseshell as well as black and bronze."
— 2023 June 26, Lauren Caruso and Jillian Tracy, “The 22 best sunglasses for summer, according to style experts”, in CNN, archived from the original on 14 Apr 2025:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The veterinarian examined the healthy ____ cat with black and orange patches.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a new pair of glasses with a beautiful ____ pattern on the frames that looked very stylish today.