conch
A marine gastropod of the family Strombidae which lives in its own spiral shell.
Noun
- A marine gastropod of the family Strombidae which lives in its own spiral shell.
- The shell of this sea animal.
- A musical instrument made from a large spiral seashell, somewhat like a trumpet.
- The semidome of an apse, or the apse itself.
- Synonym of concher (“machine used to refine the flavour and texture of chocolate”).
Synonyms: concher
Origin
Etymology tree Pre-Greekbor.? Ancient Greek κόγχη (kónkhē)bor. Latin conchabor. English conch Borrowed from Latin concha, borrowed from Ancient Greek κόγχη (kónkhē, “a mussel or cockle; a shell-like cavity”). Doublet of concha.
Forms
Related
Derived
Bubonian conch cameo conch conchiform conchite conchology conchometry conker deuteroconch Eastern Pacific giant conch Florida horse conch line conch macroconch microconch nucleoconch protoconch queen conch teleoconch
Verb
- To refine the flavour and texture of chocolate by warming and grinding, either in a traditional concher, or between rollers.
- To play a conch seashell as a musical instrument, by blowing through a hole made close to the origin of the spiral.