conch

== English == === Alternative forms === conk, conque === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin concha, borrowed from Ancient Greek κόγχη (kónkhē, “a mussel or cockle; a shell-like cavity”). Doublet of concha. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒŋk/, (spelling pronunciation) /ˈkɒnt͡ʃ/ (General American, Atlantic Canada) IPA(key): /ˈkɑŋk/, /ˈkɑnt͡ʃ/ (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈkɒŋk/, /ˈkɒnt͡ʃ/ (Australia) IPA(key): /ˈkɔŋk/, /ˈkɔnt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ɒŋk, -ɒntʃ === Noun === conch (plural conchs or conches (sometimes proscribed)) 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. (architecture) The semidome of an apse, or the apse itself. Synonym of concher (“machine used to refine the flavour and texture of chocolate”). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== congius ==== Translations ==== === Verb === conch (third-person singular simple present conches, present participle conching, simple past and past participle conched) 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. ==== Translations ====