1. The hard, protective shell or outer covering of a turtle, tortoise, or crustacean such as a crab or lobster.
Usage: Also spelled 'carapace' (more common modern spelling).; Zoology term.

Examples

• The turtle's carapax protected it from predators.
• A crab's carapax is made of a hard, chitinous material.
• The tortoise withdrew into its carapax when threatened.
• Scientists studied the patterns on the sea turtle's carapax.
• The lobster's carapax was covered with barnacles.