leather-back

A leather-back swims gracefully through the deep blue ocean.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large sea turtle: "leather-back" refers to a species of sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) characterized by a flexible, leathery shell rather than a hard, bony one. It is the largest living turtle.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The leather-back is known for its long migrations across oceans. (This refers to the specific species of turtle with a leathery shell.)
  • Conservation efforts aim to protect leather-back nesting sites on tropical beaches. (Efforts focus on preserving the habitats of this turtle.)

Advanced Usage

• "leather-back turtle": The full common name for the species, often used interchangeably with "leather-back."
  • A leather-back turtle can weigh over 900 kilograms. (Describing the size of this marine reptile.)

Variants and Related Words

• Leathery (adj): resembling leather in texture; tough and flexible.
  • The leather-back's shell is leathery, not hard like other turtles. (The shell is flexible and tough.)

Synonyms

• Leathery turtle: an alternative name for the same species.
• Dermochelys coriacea: the scientific name for the leather-back.

Related Idioms

• (None commonly used with this word.)

Phrasal Verbs

• (None applicable; "leather-back" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.)