tortoiseshell B2 Topic:Describing Qualities Also spelled tortoise-shell US /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/ See IPA manual Freq #90222 Meanings 1 noun The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments. The antique comb was made of polished tortoiseshell. 2 noun A cat with black, brown, and orange markings. Their tortoiseshell curled up on the windowsill. 3 adj Having a brown, black, and yellow mottled pattern. He bought a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 noun · a cat with black, brown,... tortiecalico cat Word family Forms tortoiseshells Etymology AI details From tortoise + shell. Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # tortoiseshell **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** noun, adj **IPA (US):** /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/ **Frequency rank:** 90222 ## Meanings 1. The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments. 2. A cat with black, brown, and orange markings. 3. Having a brown, black, and yellow mottled pattern. ## Examples - The antique comb was made of polished tortoiseshell. - Their tortoiseshell curled up on the windowsill. - He bought a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses. ## Etymology From tortoise + shell. ## AI Etymology Tortoiseshell is from tortoise + shell. The surface analysis is tortoise + shell. In present-day use, it can mean the hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments, or a cat with black, brown, and orange markings. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown