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Arca

Arca

1 9.9
A sea animal like a clam with two strong box-shaped shells
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Arca
  • The museum displayed a rare collection of arca showcasing different species of ark shells.

Examples

  • In the tidal pools, we discovered several arca that were buried in the sand.

  • The scientist studied the arca to learn more about its unique shell structure.

  • More detailed descriptions are available from accounts of the 1445 translation of her tomb chest, or arca, which had been raised up on eight columns—an honor generally reserved for saints and the secular elite.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

genus Arca
vsArca
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea clams with ridged shells like ark shells and blood clams

is the same genus described generally rather than named as the family's type

Compounds

genus Arca
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea clams with ridged shells like ark shells and blood clams

Surface Forms

Arca singular
Arcas plural

Etymology

Arca comes from the Latin word arca, which means 'box' or 'chest' and is the same root as the English word ark. These sea creatures have strong, box-like shells, so scientists named the genus Arca to show their 'box' shape.