Definition

A type of sea snail with a shiny, often colorful shell, commonly found in warm ocean waters. Some of these shells have been used as money in certain cultures.

Example

The ancient tribes used cowrie shells as a form of currency for trade.

Conversation

I found a beautiful cowrie shell at the beach yesterday.

That's awesome! I love collecting shells.

This cowrie has such a shiny surface, it's really unique.

You should display it on your shelf; it would look great there!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cowrie comes from the Hindi word 'kauri' (meaning cowrie shell), which refers to a type of marine mollusk shell that was historically used as currency and ornamentation. The term has been adopted into English to describe these shells specifically.

Memory Tip

Think of the Hindi word 'kauri' for the cowrie shell, which helps you remember that cowrie refers to this specific type of shell.

Visually Confused Words