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.

• 🇨🇳名词，指某些龟鳖的甲壳制成的斑纹角质材料，或指具有黑、奶油色和黄褐色斑纹的猫，或指幼虫以荨麻为食的彩色蝴蝶。

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.

   🇨🇳玳瑁

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.

   🇨🇳荨麻蛱蝶

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.

   🇨🇳玳瑁色

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