Cypraea moneta

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Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A species of cowrie: Cypraea moneta is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Cypraeidae, commonly known as a cowrie.
    • Historical currency: The shell of this specific cowrie has been widely used as a form of money, ornament, and ritual object, particularly in parts of the southern Pacific and Africa.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Archaeologists found Cypraea moneta shells at the ancient trading site.
    • In some cultures, Cypraea moneta was more valuable than metal coins.
Advanced Usage
  • "to be valued like Cypraea moneta": to be highly prized or used as a fundamental unit of value.
    • In that society, certain textiles were valued like Cypraea moneta.
Variants and Related Words
  • Money cowrie: The common English name for .
    • The money cowrie was a key item in trans-Saharan trade.
  • Cowrie (or cowry): The general term for shells of the family Cypraeidae.
    • Various cowrie species are found in tropical seas.
Synonyms
  • Monetary shell: A descriptive synonym emphasizing its use as currency.
  • Currency shell: Another term highlighting its historical economic function.
Related Phrases
  • Shell money: A broader term for any mollusk shell used as currency, which includes .
    • Shell money, such as Cypraea moneta, facilitated trade across vast distances.
Related Idioms
  • Not worth a cowrie: Means something is completely worthless (using the general term "cowrie," which historically included the valuable ).
    • His promise turned out not to be worth a cowrie.
Noun
  1. cowrie whose shell is used for money in parts of the southern Pacific and in parts of Africa

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