Definition

A hard outer covering created by a marine animal, often found on beaches, that can be shaped like a spiral or a flat disc.

Example

She collected beautiful seashells along the shore during her vacation.

Conversation

Did you find any cool seashells on the beach yesterday?

Yeah, I collected a few really unique ones!

I love how each seashell has a different pattern.

Me too! They remind me of all the fun times at the ocean.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Seashell → The word is formed from "sea" (from Old English *sǣ*, meaning the large body of saltwater) and "shell" (from Old English *scell*, meaning a hard outer covering). Together, these parts describe a hard outer covering found in or near the sea.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'sea' as the large body of water and 'shell' as the hard covering — a seashell is simply a hard covering found in the sea.

Visually Confused Words