seashell

/ˌsiˈʃɛl/

/ˈsiʃɛl/

Other forms: seashells

Many sea creatures live inside hard, protective cases called seashells. If you find a seashell on the beach, think of it as a tiny abandoned home of a sea creature.

You can also call a seashell a shell, although "sea" distinguishes ocean shells from those of freshwater mollusks. If you've ever walked on a beach, you've seen seashells, and maybe even collected some to take home (after checking to make sure no tiny creatures were living inside). Clams, snails, and oysters are all examples of animals that live in seashells. One of the most famous mentions of this word appears in the tongue twister: "She sells seashells by the seashore." Try saying that ten times, fast!

Definitions of seashell

1. noun

   the shell of a marine organism
   type of:

   shell

   the hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusk or a brachiopod