conchology

[ kong-kol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the branch of zoology dealing with the shells of mollusks.

conchology

/ ˌkɒŋkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; kɒŋˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study and collection of mollusc shells

Derived Forms

• conˈchologist, noun
• conchological, adjective

Other Words From

• con·cho·log·i·cal [kong-k, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• concho·logi·cal·ly adverb
• con·cholo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conchology¹

1770–80; conch + -o- + -logy

Example Sentences

One of his bestselling works was an introduction to conchology, the science of shells.

From Slate

Roos portrays these extraordinarily talented young women as beneficiaries of their polymath father, whose indefatigable curiosity about the natural world drove his achievements, and who gave his daughters unusual latitude in pursuing the art and science of conchology.

From Nature

He called these “combinations of concrete objects,” recurring in time, “involutes,” a term he borrowed from conchology.

From The New Yorker

I have preferred subjoining only the essential generic characters of this genus, as most intelligible to students; particularly as its natural characters are fully detailed in the first part of "Exotic Conchology."

From Project Gutenberg

A very fine specimen of this variety, having these characters remarkably developed, is in my own cabinet, and is figured in Exotic Conchology, part 4.

From Project Gutenberg