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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She’s dressed almost like a little Napoleon, and her suits are like a carapace of steel on her body, with these big shoulder pads. Cat Cardenas, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025 Inevitably, some entrepreneur is going to come out with a complicated token that makes all kinds of promises, but tries to mask all that by calling it a meme coin — as if that language will now put it within some sort of anti-regulatory carapace. Brady Dale, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025 Stick with the shell not just for a more affordable option but because the outer carapace contains lots of flavors and can be used to create a fish broth. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024 Stick with the shell not just for a more affordable option but because the outer carapace contains lots of flavors and can be used to create a fish broth. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Carapace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carapace. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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)

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