tortoiseshell

A noun referring to the mottled horny substance from the shell of certain turtles, or a cat with black, cream, and yellowish markings, or a brilliantly colored butterfly whose larvae feed on nettles.

• 🇪🇸Sustantivo que designa la materia córnea moteada del caparazón de ciertas tortugas, o un gato con manchas negras, crema y amarillentas, o una mariposa de colores vivos cuyas orugas se alimentan de ortigas.

1. Mottled shell material B2 formal

   The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from the shell of certain sea turtles, historically used for decorative items like combs and jewelry.

   • The antique comb was made of genuine tortoiseshell.
   • Tortoiseshell was once highly prized for its beautiful patterns.
   • Modern products use synthetic materials to imitate tortoiseshell.

   🇪🇸Carey

2. Butterfly species B2 formal scientific

   A brightly colored butterfly with black and orange markings, whose larvae feed on nettles.

   • A tortoiseshell butterfly landed on the flower.
   • The garden was full of tortoiseshell butterflies in the summer.
   • Tortoiseshell caterpillars are often found on nettle plants.

   🇪🇸Mariposa tortuga

3. Cat coat pattern A2 informal

   A coat pattern in cats characterized by a mix of black, cream, and yellowish-orange patches.

   • My tortoiseshell cat has a beautiful mix of colors.
   • Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
   • She adopted a stray tortoiseshell kitten from the shelter.

   🇪🇸Carey (coloración de gato)

• tortoiseshells plural form
• tortoiseshells' possessive plural form
• tortoiseshell's possessive singular form