CONCH Definition & Meaning

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conch

[ kongk, konch ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural conchs conches

the spiral shell of a gastropod, often used as a horn.
any of various marine gastropods.
the fabled shell trumpet of the Tritons.
(often initial capital letter) Slang: Sometimes Disparaging.
1. a term used to refer to a native or inhabitant of the Florida Keys.
2. a term used to refer to a Bahamian.
Also . Architecture. a smooth concave surface consisting of or resembling the interior of a semidome, as the surface of a vault, a trompe, or the head of a niche.

conch-

variant of concho- before a vowel.

conch

/ kɒŋk; kɒntʃ /

noun

any of various tropical marine gastropod molluscs of the genus Strombus and related genera, esp S. gigas (giant conch), characterized by a large brightly coloured spiral shell
the shell of such a mollusc, used as a trumpet
architect another name for concha

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Sensitive Note

Conch is usually a neutral nickname or term of self-reference for any person living in the Florida Keys or the Bahamas, where conch (the flesh of the gastropod) is a popular food. However, the nickname conch is sometimes used with disparaging intent when specifically referring to a person of Bahamian ancestry living in the Florida Keys. And Loyalists who fled to the Bahamas during the Revolutionary War used the nickname conch to refer disparagingly to a native or early settler of the Bahamas.

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��ǲԳ��·��ٱ� [kong, -keyt, kon, -cheyt], conched adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of conch¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin concha < Greek ��ó�Գ��ŧ mussel, shell

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of conch¹

C16: from Latin concha, from Greek ��ǲ԰��ŧ shellfish

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Signs assembled from vehicle tires line a dusty pedestrian route from the paved road to her gas station — a cleverly suggestive Shell station, apparently, given the chrome conches adorning the pump handles.

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Protesters blew conch shells - the sound is considered auspicious.

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The race starts any time from midnight to noon on race day, with one hour till race start signalled by blowing a conch.

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It is more cringy than sweet seeing her flirt with him over how to pronounce “conch.”

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An Indian air force helicopter dropped flower petals outside, priests blew conches and chanted, but Modi was the star.

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