tortoiseshell
tortoiseshell — noun
- tortoiseshellsingular
- tortoiseshellsplural
1. a hard patterned material taken from some sea turtles, or a man-made copy of tha
a hard patterned material taken from some sea turtles, or a man-made copy of that look, often used for jewellery, combs, and glasses frames.
Gabriela bought vintage sunglasses with thick tortoiseshell frames at the market.
tortoiseshell frames
The museum locked the old tortoiseshell comb inside a glass case.
tortoiseshell comb
A craftsman showed Owen a box made from imitation tortoiseshell and brass.
The violin shop displayed a tortoiseshell pick beside silver cuff links.
文法句型
tortoiseshell + frames/comb/buttons
made from + tortoiseshell
imitation tortoiseshell
用法筆記
Usually refers to the shell material or its mottled pattern, not to a whole turtle shell. In modern use it often describes imitation goods because real turtle shell is protected.
2. a cat with a coat patterned in dark and ginger patches, often with some cream or
a cat with a coat patterned in dark and ginger patches, often with some cream or white mixed in.
Sofia carried the tortoiseshell cat to the sofa after its bath.
tortoiseshell cat
Our tortoiseshell slept on the warm printer beside Tariq's desk.
our tortoiseshell
The vet said the tortoiseshell needed medicine for an ear infection.
Yuna posted photos when her tortoiseshell climbed into the laundry basket.
- tortie
informal short form used by cat owners
文法句型
a tortoiseshell cat
the tortoiseshell + verb
用法筆記
Often short for tortoiseshell cat. Cat owners also use it for the coat pattern itself, especially in shelter or show descriptions.
常見錯誤
3. a brightly marked butterfly with orange wings broken by dark brown or black patc
a brightly marked butterfly with orange wings broken by dark brown or black patches.
Christopher spotted a tortoiseshell resting on the fence post near the herbs.
spot a tortoiseshell
A tortoiseshell opened its wings on the warm stone near the pond.
opened its wings
The guide showed Imran how the tortoiseshell's orange marks flashed in sunlight.
We watched a tortoiseshell drift above the garden herbs after lunch.
- tortoiseshell butterfly
fuller name that makes the insect category explicit
文法句型
a tortoiseshell + verb
watch/spot + a tortoiseshell
用法筆記
In ordinary use this often stands alone as the butterfly name. Speakers add butterfly only when they want to make the insect category extra clear.
tortoiseshell — adjective
- tortoiseshellpositive
- more tortoiseshellcomparative
- most tortoiseshellsuperlative
1. made from tortoiseshell, or coloured in the same brown-and-amber pattern.
made from tortoiseshell, or coloured in the same brown-and-amber pattern.
Paul chose tortoiseshell glasses because the warm pattern suited his face.
tortoiseshell glasses
The shop wrapped the tortoiseshell hair clip in soft grey paper.
tortoiseshell hair clip
Camille kept her tortoiseshell knitting needles in a blue cloth case.
Aunt Rosa admired the tortoiseshell buttons on the tailor's sample coat.
文法句型
tortoiseshell + glasses/buttons/clip
tortoiseshell + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns for accessories and other small objects. It may describe the real material or a manufactured pattern that copies the look.
2. showing the dark, ginger, and brown patch pattern typical of a tortoiseshell cat
showing the dark, ginger, and brown patch pattern typical of a tortoiseshell cat.
The shelter posted a photo of a tortoiseshell kitten with one white paw.
tortoiseshell kitten
Eshe hoped the tortoiseshell female would get used to the new room.
tortoiseshell female
We found a tortoiseshell mother cat asleep under the garden bench.
The breeder explained that the tortoiseshell coat darkens as some cats grow.
文法句型
tortoiseshell + cat/kitten/female/coat
be tortoiseshell
用法筆記
Used mainly for cats or their fur. English speakers often place it before cat, kitten, female, or coat rather than using it for other animals.