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smooth-shelled

smooth-shelled

1 4.9
Having a shell with an even surface without ridges or bumps
  • adjective
: de concha lisa
  • Collectors prized the smooth-shelled eggs for their unique appearance.

Examples

  • Some snails have smooth-shelled forms, while others display intricate patterns and textures.

  • The smooth-shelled turtle glided effortlessly through the water.

  • The smooth-shelled turtle was easily distinguished from its rougher cousins.

  • I found a smooth-shelled clam on the beach yesterday.

  • The smooth-shelled turtle glided effortlessly through the water, showcasing its sleek exterior.

  • The artist chose smooth-shelled stones for the sculpture to create a polished and refined look.

  • You can easily identify the smooth-shelled variety of the mollusk by its shiny and even surface.

Synonyms

smooth
vssmooth-shelled
224 1.0

A surface that is even and not rough

describes the same evenness specifically for a hard outer covering
smooth-textured
vssmooth-shelled
1 3.7

Having an even, soft surface with no bumps when you touch it

limits that texture description to a hard outer covering
even-textured
vssmooth-shelled
1 5.5

Having a smooth, regular surface without bumps or rough spots

emphasizes evenness on a hard outer covering rather than overall uniformity

How Smooth

polished
75 2.1
smooth-shelled
1 4.9
rough
144 1.0
uneven
48 2.3

Surface Forms

smooth-shelled positive

Morphology

smooth-shelled = smooth + shelled (transparent) = smooth + shell + ed

Formed by compounding 'smooth' + 'shelled' (it literally means 'having a smooth shell'), so the meaning is directly inferable from its parts.

Etymology

The word smooth-shelled comes from two common parts: smooth, meaning 'even' or 'without bumps', and shelled, from shell, meaning 'hard outer covering'. So smooth-shelled literally means 'having a shell that is smooth', which is why we use it for eggs, snails, or turtles with shells that are even and without bumps.