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Glite Dictionary
shell-less

shell-less

5.6
Having no hard outer layer, for example some snails and nuts
  • adjective
  • /ˈʃɛl.lɛs/
translation icon : sin cáscara
  • The shell-less frog eggs float gently in the water, providing a unique sight for observers.

Examples

  • Some shell-less sea creatures, like certain nudibranchs, have vibrant colors that help them blend into their surroundings.

  • The masses of clear, shell-less, slimy frog eggs, each with a tiny black dot in their center, were more enticing than an untouched bowl of red jello.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Tritonia and Melibe belong to the nudibranchs, a subset of opisthobranchs, many of which notably possess "naked gills" that frill their shell-less bodies.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Without a protective outer shell, these shell-less animals are more vulnerable to predators in their environment.

Synonyms

unshelled
vsshell-less
1 4.4

Having no hard outer covering, for example nuts or shrimp with that covering removed

is used when the outer covering is naturally absent rather than removed

Antonyms

shelled
1 1.9

Having a hard outer covering like a crab or nut

How Shelled

hard-shelled
1 3.6
shelled
1 1.9
shell-less
5.6

Surface Forms

shell-less positive

Morphology

shell-less = shell (transparent) = shell + less

The adjective is formed by adding the negative suffix '-less' to the noun 'shell', yielding the clear meaning 'without a shell'.

Etymology

Shell-less comes from the word shell and the ending -less, where -less means 'without', just like in homeless or careless. So shell-less literally means an animal or fruit 'without' a shell.