carapace

noun

car·​a·​pace ˈker-ə-ˌpās How to pronounce carapace (audio)
ˈka-rə-
1
: a bony or chitinous case or shield covering the back or part of the back of an animal (such as a turtle or crab)
2
: a protective, decorative, or disguising shell
the carapace of reserve he built around himselfM. M. Mintz

Examples of carapace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The lobster carapaces infuse a briny, umami-rich flavor into the stock. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024 The floors were dark, shining slate; the ceilings were 25 feet tall; the furniture was precious and uncomfortable and looked to my child’s eye like the carapaces of huge insects frozen in place. Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024 Underneath the icy carapace of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, a geologically tumultuous orb, is a warm liquid-water ocean that contains a range of ingredients essential to life, including phosphorus compounds. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2024 But Groff is an actor who’s able to communicate hurt and humanity even through a carapace of ego and moral deficiency. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for carapace 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Spanish carapacho

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carapace was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near carapace

Cite this Entry

“Carapace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carapace. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

carapace

noun
car·​a·​pace ˈkar-ə-ˌpās How to pronounce carapace (audio)
: a bony or horny case or shield covering all or part of the back of an animal (as a turtle)

More from Merriam-Webster on carapace

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