testaceous

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /tɛˈsteɪʃəs/ UK /teˈsteɪʃəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
zoology and botany: dull brick-red, orange-brown, or yellowish-brown in color

The male spider was testaceous, while the much larger female was nearly black.
2

adj
having or relating to a hard shell

The naturalist separated the testaceous molluscs from the shell-less forms.
3

adj
obsolete: made of or resembling baked clay or earthenware

The excavation yielded several testaceous vessels hardened in a kiln.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · zoology and botany: dull... brick-coloredreddish-brownorange-brown

2 adj · having or relating to a... shelledtestate

3 adj · obsolete: made of or... earthenwareceramic

Opposites

shell-less

Word family

Related forms testashellterracotta

Etymology

From Latin testaceus, 'made of tiles, earthenware, or shell,' from testa, 'earthen pot, potsherd, or shell.' Naturalists extended the word both to shell-bearing animals and to the dull brick-like color associated with fired clay.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# testaceous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /tɛˈsteɪʃəs/
**IPA (UK):** /teˈsteɪʃəs/

## Meanings
1. zoology and botany: dull brick-red, orange-brown, or yellowish-brown in color
2. having or relating to a hard shell
3. obsolete: made of or resembling baked clay or earthenware

## Examples
- The male spider was testaceous, while the much larger female was nearly black.
- The naturalist separated the testaceous molluscs from the shell-less forms.
- The excavation yielded several testaceous vessels hardened in a kiln.

## Synonyms
- brick-colored
- reddish-brown
- orange-brown
- shelled
- testate
- earthenware

## Antonyms
- shell-less

## Related Forms
- testa
- shell
- terracotta

## Etymology
From Latin testaceus, 'made of tiles, earthenware, or shell,' from testa, 'earthen pot, potsherd, or shell.' Naturalists extended the word both to shell-bearing animals and to the dull brick-like color associated with fired clay.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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