DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Tor·toise n.
 1. Zool. Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata.
 Note: ☞ The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers.  See Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle.
 2. Rom. Antiq. Same as Testudo, 2.
 Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc.
 Painted tortoise. Zool. See Painted turtle, under Painted.
 Soft-shell tortoise. Zool. See Trionyx.
 Spotted tortoise. Zool. A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus guttatus or Nanemys guttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots.
 Tortoise beetle Zool., any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles.  Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster.  The larvae feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines.  The golden tortoise beetle (Cassida aurichalcea) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants.
 Tortoise plant. Bot. See Elephant's foot, under Elephant.
 Tortoise shell, the substance of the shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of various ornamental articles.
 Tortoise-shell butterfly Zool., any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as Aglais Milberti, and Aglais urticae, both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles.
 Tortoise-shell turtle Zool., the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.
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 El·e·phant n.
 1. Zoöl. A mammal of the order Proboscidia and family Elephantidae, of which two living species, Elephas maximus (formerly Elephas Indicus) and Loxodonta Africana (formerly E. Africanus), and several fossil species, are known. They have five toes, a long proboscis or trunk, and two large ivory tusks proceeding from the extremity of the upper jaw, and curving upwards. The molar teeth are large and have transverse folds. Elephants are the largest land animals now existing.  The elephant is classed as a pachyderm.
 2. Ivory; the tusk of the elephant. [Obs.]
 Elephant apple Bot., an East Indian fruit with a rough, hard rind, and edible pulp, borne by Feronia elephantum, a large tree related to the orange.
 Elephant bed Geol., at Brighton, England, abounding in fossil remains of elephants. --Mantell.
 Elephant beetle Zoöl., any very large beetle of the genus Goliathus (esp. G. giganteus), of the family Scarabæidæ. They inhabit West Africa.
 Elephant fish Zoöl., a chimæroid fish (Callorhynchus antarcticus), with a proboscis-like projection of the snout.
 Elephant paper, paper of large size, 23 × 28 inches.
 Double elephant paper, paper measuring 26¾ × 40 inches. See Note under Paper.
 Elephant seal Zoöl., an African jumping shrew (Macroscelides typicus), having a long nose like a proboscis.
 Elephant's ear Bot., a name given to certain species of the genus Begonia, which have immense one-sided leaves.
 Elephant's foot Bot. (a) A South African plant (Testudinaria Elephantipes), which has a massive rootstock covered with a kind of bark cracked with deep fissures; -- called also tortoise plant. The interior part is barely edible, whence the plant is also called Hottentot's bread. (b) A genus (Elephantopus) of coarse, composite weeds.
 Elephant's tusk Zoöl., the tooth shell. See Dentalium.
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 tortoise plant
      n : South African vine having a massive rootstock covered with
          deeply fissured bark [syn: elephant's-foot, Hottentot
          bread vine, Hottentot's bread vine, Dioscorea
          elephantipes]