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Glite Dictionary
tiger cowrie

tiger cowrie

9.9
A large tropical sea snail with a shiny oval shell marked with dark spots often used in jewelry
  • noun
  • /ˈtaɪɡər ˈkaʊri/
  • UK
translation icon : cápsula tigre
  • The tiger cowrie is known for its beautiful shell.

Examples

  • The tiger cowrie is prized by collectors for its beautiful shell pattern.

  • She displayed a polished tiger cowrie among other shells on her shelf.

  • Many Pacific islanders have used the tiger cowrie shell in jewelry and decoration.

  • Many artisans use tiger cowries in their jewelry.

  • The jeweler displayed a beautiful tiger cowrie shell in his shop, highlighting its unique pattern.

  • She collected several tiger cowrie shells during her vacation at the tropical beach.

  • The tiger cowrie is often admired for its glossy appearance and is frequently used in decorative arts.

Synonyms

cowrie
vstiger cowrie
1 9.9

A small shiny sea shell used as decoration and once used as money

is a specific large spotted type rather than the broader general mollusk
cowry
vstiger cowrie
1 9.1

A small shiny sea shell from tropical seas often used as money or jewelry

is a large spotted type rather than a generally small one
Cypraea tigris
vstiger cowrie
  • Specialized
9.9

A large sea snail with a shiny spotted shell used for decoration

is the same species but named with a formal scientific name
Cypraea
vstiger cowrie
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea snails with shiny, brightly patterned shells

is the specific species rather than the whole genus

How Spotted

tiger cowrie
  • UK
9.9
spotted
2 1.0

Surface Forms

tiger cowrie singular
tiger cowries plural

Morphology

tiger + cowrie

The noun compound is compositional: 'tiger' describes the appearance/pattern of a specific kind of 'cowrie' (a shell), so the overall meaning is a cowrie with tiger-like markings. This animal-modifier + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows ordinary compounding rules, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Tiger cowrie gets its name from the shell's dark spots that look like a tiger's skin. The word cowrie names this sea snail, so the name means 'a large sea snail with a shiny, oval shell marked like a tiger'.