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Glite Dictionary
tortoiseshell turtle

tortoiseshell turtle

8.2
A tropical sea turtle with a hooked beak and a beautiful patterned shell valued for decoration and food
  • noun
  • /ˈtɔːrtəˌʃɛl ˈtɜːrtl/
translation icon : tortuga carey
  • The tortoiseshell turtle is critically endangered due to demand for its beautiful shell.

Examples

  • Exporting tortoiseshell turtle shell has been banned to help protect the species.

  • Many tortoiseshell turtles inhabit the warm waters of the Caribbean.

  • Divers often hope to spot a tortoiseshell turtle among the coral reefs.

  • The tortoiseshell turtle is known for its beautiful shell.

  • Many conservationists are working to protect the tortoiseshell turtle, which is threatened by habitat loss.

  • The tortoiseshell turtle is often seen basking on rocks near the shore of tropical islands.

  • Due to its striking patterns, the tortoiseshell turtle is sought after by marine wildlife enthusiasts.

Synonyms

sea turtle
vstortoiseshell turtle
18 2.5

A large turtle that lives in the sea and uses flippers to swim

is the specific tropical form valued for its patterned shell and food
hawkbill
vstortoiseshell turtle
  • Specialized
9.8

A tropical sea turtle with a hooked beak valued for its shell and meat

emphasizes use as a source of food as well as shell
hawksbill
vstortoiseshell turtle
  • Specialized
9.4

A tropical sea turtle with a hawk-like beak and a beautiful shell wanted by people

has added note about also being used for food
hawksbill turtle
vstortoiseshell turtle
  • Specialized
7.5

A sea turtle with a pointed, hawk-like beak and a beautiful patterned shell that is endangered

focuses more on its value for food than on conservation
Eretmochelys imbricata
vstortoiseshell turtle
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical sea turtle with a pointed beak and a beautiful patterned shell that is endangered

is a common use name stressing food and shell value rather than scientific label
Eretmochelys
vstortoiseshell turtle
  • Specialized
9.9

A sea turtle with a narrow, pointed beak and a patterned shell

is the specific common use emphasizing food and shell rather than taxonomic group
marine turtle
vstortoiseshell turtle
2.6

A large sea animal with a hard shell and flippers that lives in warm oceans

refers to a particular tropical kind prized for its shell and used as food

Surface Forms

tortoiseshell turtle singular
tortoiseshell turtles plural

Morphology

tortoiseshell + turtle

The noun phrase is transparently compositional: 'tortoiseshell' describes the shell pattern/material and 'turtle' names the animal, so the meaning 'a turtle with a tortoiseshell-like shell' is directly derivable from the parts. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can infer this basic sense (even if they may not know the precise species details).

Etymology

Tortoiseshell turtle gets its name from the turtle's bright, spotted 'shell'. People called that pattern tortoiseshell because it looked like the hard, shiny material once used for combs and small boxes, so the name points to a sea turtle valued for its shell and often hunted.