carapace
Turtle's bony dome
A carapace is the hard upper shell of a turtle, crab, lobster, or similar creature—the protective covering over the back.
The word extends to any shell-like protective structure: The beetle's carapace gleamed in the light.
Figuratively, a carapace is emotional armor or a defensive exterior someone presents to the world: He developed a carapace of cynicism to protect himself.
Hard outer covering
- armorProtective combat covering
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- defenseProtection against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
protection · facade · exterior · guard · encasement · fortification · impenetrable · hardened
External skeletal structure
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scuteHorny protective plate
- cephalothoraxFused cranial-trunk section
- dorsalOf the back
integument · segmentation · thorax · abdomen · chitin · cuticle · keratin · calcified
Land-dwelling shelled reptile
- terrapinSmall edible marsh turtle
- chelonianTurtle family member
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scuteHorny protective plate
shell · loggerhead · hawksbill · snapping turtle · box turtle · green turtle · leatherback · basking
Hard-winged insect
- elytraHardened forewings of beetles
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- chitinArthropod shell polymer
- cuticleDead skin at nail base
arthropod · pupa · larva · molt · metamorphosis · entomology · invertebrate · thorax
shell
Hard outer covering
barrier · protection · facade · exterior · guard · encasement · fortification · impenetrable · hardened · tough
exoskeleton
External skeletal structure
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scuteHorny protective plate
- cephalothoraxFused cranial-trunk section
dorsal · integument · segmentation · thorax · abdomen · chitin · cuticle · keratin · calcified · keratinous
tortoise
Land-dwelling shelled reptile
scute · shell · loggerhead · hawksbill · snapping turtle · box turtle · green turtle · leatherback · basking · flippers
beetle
Hard-winged insect
- elytraHardened forewings of beetles
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- chitinArthropod shell polymer
cuticle · arthropod · pupa · larva · molt · metamorphosis · entomology · invertebrate · thorax · abdomen
crab
Pincer-bearing shellfish
barnacle · isopod · decapod · krill · hermit crab · horseshoe crab · molting · arthropod · claws · antennae
- animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
- animal partsappendage, forelimb, hind leg, hind legs, hindlegs
- armorbody armor, plate armor, chainmail, chain mail, breastplate
- coveringscoating, covers, layer, coatings, skin
- outer layersshell, shells, skin, skins, bark
- shellsseashells, sea shells, shell, clam, oyster
carapacesoft tissue
Non-rigid body structures
soft underbelly · flesh · membrane · skin · pulp
carapaceunderbelly
Vulnerable lower surface
weak spot · vulnerability · Achilles heel · naked body · defenselessness
carapacesoft tissue
Non-rigid body structures
soft underbelly · vulnerability · nakedness · defenselessness