tor·toise·shell — /ˈtoɚtəˌʃɛl/ noun, pl shells 1 [count, noncount] : the usually brown and yellow shell of a turtle that is used to make decorations 2 [count] : a cat with yellow, orange, white, and black fur 3 [count] : a usually brown and orange butterfly… … Useful english dictionary
tor|toise — «TR tuhs», noun, plural tois|es or toise. 1. a) a turtle living only on land, especially in dry regions. Tortoises have stumpy legs and a high, arched shell. b) any turtle. 2. Figurative. a very slow person or thing. ╂[alteration of Middle… … Useful english dictionary
tor — ab·ac·tor; ab·bre·vi·a·tor; ab·di·ca·tor; abet·tor; ab·ne·ga·tor; abom·i·na·tor; ab·sol·vi·tor; ab·strac·tor; ac·cel·er·a·tor; ac·cen·tor; ac·cen·tu·a·tor; ac·cep·tor; ac·com·mo·da·tor; ac·cu·mu·la·tor; acet·y·la·tor; ac·ti·va·tor; ac·tor;… … English syllables
toise — por·toise; toise; tor·toise; tor·toise·shell; … English syllables
shell — bomb·shell; shell·ap·ple; shell; shell·drake; shell·duck; shell·er; shell·fish·ery; shell·man; un·shell; sub·shell; tor·toise·shell; … English syllables
tortoise shell — tortoise shell, 1. the mottled, yellow and brown shell of some turtles, especially the hawksbill turtle. It is much used for combs and ornaments. 2. any one of several butterflies spotted with yellow and black. 3. = tortoise shell cat. (Cf.… … Useful english dictionary
Soft-shell tortoise — Tortoise Tor toise, n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tortoise shell — Tortoise Tor toise, n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tortoise-shell butterfly — Tortoise Tor toise, n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tortoise-shell turtle — Tortoise Tor toise, n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English